When one looks at the playing personnel of these teams, it does not come across as though they lack quality and depth but rather, lack leadership from management which disproportionately affects focus and ultimately results from the technical staff.
Baroka had an annus mirabilis 2018/19 under Zambian, Wedson Nyirenda and wrote their name in the history books of the Telkom Knockout Challenge by winning it last season against Orlando Pirates nogal. This season has been an annus horribilis for them. Nyirenda resigned under eccentric circumstances though fingers point to dressing room politics allegedly contrived by some members of management, to achieve what remains a conundrum. Dylan Kerr, formerly with Black Leopards, has stepped in to take charge of a club that desperately needs to pull itself out of the sticky situation. Will Kerr survive until the end of season and rise to the occasion? Time will tell.
In come Black Leopards – Dylan Kerr resigns. French mentor, Lionel Soccoia is dismissed. Luc Eymael resigns. Professor Mlungisi Ngubane leaves in a huff. Cavin Johnson who had been shown the door at Amazulu, steps in. Not to be left out of the coaches merry go round, Polokwane City have roped in Clinton Larsen who had been fired at Chippa United, taking over from the fired Serbian trainer Zlatko Krmpotic.
So when all is said and done what is the cause of coaches resigning and getting fired within short space of time? Is management impatient for results? Are there internal politics hampering smooth running of coaching affairs? Are there dressing room politics among players that ultimately affect coaches? Whatever it is, chances are we will never get to know the actual truth while perceptions mount. Perceptions if allowed to simmer for a long time are bound to start sounding like the truth something which might do more harm to these brands than good. All the while, sponsors watch all these happening with interest of whether it is worth their while to invest in brands that seem unstable and undecided. Fans alike are fraught. Notwithstanding football clubs like any other businesses are results driven and in the absence of positive results heads will fall but is it all there is to what is happening to these Limpopo clubs.
