Kaitano Tembo has revealed how revered coach Pitso Mosimane paved his way into coaching after a lengthy stay in SuperSport United’s ranks.
Tembo played under the revered coach Pitso Mosimane between 1999 and 2006. Mosimane first served as SuperSport United’s assistant coach and was later elevated to head coach in 2001.
It is during this period that Tembo got an appreciation of coaching under Mosimane’s wing, albeit as a player. The Zimbabwean was the Matsatsantsa captain as Pitso Mosimane carved a niche in a field he has been conquering.
Interestingly, Mosimane’s exit from Matsatsantsa coincided with Tembo’s retirement, with the latter taking a coaching gig in the club’s juniors.
HOW MOSIMANE SHOWED TEMBO THE WAY INTO COACHING
Tembo went on to coach SuperSport United’s senior team, Sekhukhune United and Richards Bay FC.
While opening up about how Mosimane paved his way into coaching, the 53-year-old also applauded Gavin Hunt and Stuart Baxter.
Tembo was an assistant coach to Hunt, Baxter, and Eric Tinkler before taking over as head coach in 2018 at SuperSport. During his time as coach at the club, Tembo reached two MTN8 Cup finals, winning his first trophy against Highlands Park in 2019.
“You know, football is a passion-driven sport. Everything that I have done now is because of passion,” Tembo told FARPost. “But coach Pitso was the first to give me an appreciation for coaching. That time, I was captain, and he gave me so many responsibilities related to his strategy.
“For example, I would consistently analyse other matches for him and give him feedback as we planned. He valued my input, and that marked the start of my learning period. I learnt a lot, and when I retired, it was easy for me to start coaching the juniors.
“Of course, coach Gavin Hunt did a lot for me because he is the one who brought me to South Africa. The same goes for Stuart Baxter.
“Coach Pitso helped me get an appreciation of the tasks at the head because while leading the players as captain, I was able to understand everything from a coach’s perspective.”
Tembo’s last coaching job ended on the 25th of December, 2023, when Richards Bay announced their divorce.
WHAT TEMBO IS DOING NOW
Though his tenure in the league was inconsistent, Tembo led Richards Bay to the semi-finals of the Carling Knockout Cup.
They, however, lost to the eventual Carling Knockout Cup winners, Stellenbosch FC, in the semi-finals. Tembo was replaced by Vusimuzi Vilakazi.
The soft-spoken mentor said,” Right now, I’m focused on advancing myself. When you are coaching, it is never easy to be relaxed and have time to advance yourself.But right now, it is the perfect time to do that and advance knowledge of this ever-evolving game.”
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