With an increasing number of South African coaches being entrusted to take charge of big clubs abroad, Simba SC head coach Steve Barker has urged top Betway Premiership sides to show greater faith in local tacticians.
Barker is in his second season at Tanzanian giants Simba while his fellow countrymen Manqoba Mngqithi is in charge of their biggest rivals Young Africans.
In Egypt, Rulani Mokwena currently leads the Premier League with Pyramids FC. Eric Tinkler recently had a short stint with Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko, while Fadlu Davids also took charge of giants such as Raja CA in Morocco.
SOUTH AFRICAN BIG CLUBS CONTINUE TO SHOW FAITH IN FOREIGN COACHES
Mamelodi Sundowns are led by Portuguese tactician Miguel Cardoso, French-Moroccan Abdeslam Ouaddou is at the helm at Orlando Pirates, while Frenchman Fernando Da Cruz is in charge at Kaizer Chiefs.
Barker says with South African coaches getting recognition abroad, it’s also important for big clubs in the PSL to trust in the locals.
“South African coaches locally are perhaps not properly looked at enough in terms of the bigger clubs and bigger jobs,” said Barker.
STEVE BARKER: HOPEFUL YOUNG COACHES WILL BE ENTRUSTED WITH BIG JOBS IN THE FUTURE
The 58-year-old believes it is too late for the old generation of coaches to be entrusted with taking charge of bigger clubs but says the opportunity could be there for the young coaches.
“All we can do as coaches is just to continue to be successful wherever we are and with the teams that we coach. You never know, maybe in the future opportunities will arise. Maybe too late for us who are senior, but hopefully the younger generation of coaches in South Africa can be given a fair chance at the bigger jobs in the country.
”I do believe that South African coaches have shown [that they have qualities]. It’s not just recent; there was initially Pitso [Mosimane], Bradley Carnell in America, obviously Rulani [Mokwena], the success that he’s had. Obviously it’s good to have myself and Manqoba [Mngqithi] in Tanzania at two big clubs. So all the coaches are doing well.”
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