Former Orlando Pirates coach Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic has sent an emotional message to the PSL in helping him grow over the years.
Sredojevic, who is the current head coach of Libya national team, has spent over 23 years coaching in Africa since starting his career as one of the youngest mentors of his time back home in Serbia in the late 1990s.
Following his two spells with Pirates among other roles he has had, Sredojevic enjoyed working under club and league chairman Dr. Irvin Khoza and he has praised him for the role he played in improving the standard of football in the country.
The Good
"I have been one of the coaches that out of the three best leagues in Africa, I have worked in two with the South African Premier League being the number one, and Egypt at number two. Morocco is at number three, and I remember that years back I had an offer from Wydad Casablanca. When you look at that, it means that one day, I can work in that third biggest league in Africa. But I count the PSL as my home, having in mind that my African football father Dr. Irvin Khoza is the chairman of the PSL, and this is what I got in 2006 when I got to Orlando Pirates. Again, from 2017 to 2019 when I was with Pirates for my second spell, and it's something that will stay inside me forever. I follow the PSL deep inside and I might be physically absent, but my football soul is deeply engraved in the PSL inside me. I really look at the league as an African football treasure. It's a South African national and African football treasure. I was very happy with Bafana Bafana seeing that they were the only team (At the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast) with the most players coming from their own league. The PSL showed the quality that it has and that was the best way of being ambassadors of the league. Bafana showed what the rest of us think about the PSL. So, wherever the people who work for the PSL are and whatever they do in serving the brand in the best possible way, clubs and all the stakeholders of the game in South Africa, they know very well that I have always backed the family. I have the highest degree of respect for them and the PSL is growing from strength to strength under them and the reflection of that was the recent Africa Cup of Nations," said Sredojevic.
The Bad
"In my country, I did something unprecedented with a small team from the north of Serbia Spartak Subotica when I won two cups. I was described as one of the most respected young coaches in Serbia. However, in life you never know. When I was coaching our U20 team during a European tournament, an international reporter from Uganda approached me. I was the youngest coach in that tournament, and it was in Czech Republic. From there, I made a step because there was a political change in Serbia, and my club was not doing well. I asked myself what I should do, and I took a bold step to go in a challenge. However, when you come to Africa you never know how long you will stay," the coach said.
The Ugly
"When I look back, I came with no intention to stay for long. However, I got really infected and after that I was addicted to my African football dream that I am practically living. I have been to 50 out of 54 African countries to date and I have a network of friends in all African countries. Practically, I grew up in South African football and African football is my elder brother who helped to grow as a human being and a football coach. Yes, I come from Serbia, but I count myself and African football coach because of the 23 years that I have given diligent service and soldiering for football on the continent," he said.
"My former players have become coaches"
"I would like to use this opportunity to express my wholehearted appreciation and sincere gratitude to all the great people I have worked with. To the players that I have worked with, I try to be more of an elder brother, lifeguard, and in the end be their coach that has helped them to improve their careers. Many of my former players have become coaches. My message of appreciation also goes to my colleagues who I have worked with who have impacted me so much about African football, culture, traditions and styles of life in helping me. My message of appreciation also goes to officials, neutral football lovers, supporters and everyone. I cannot say what I want to say enough, and I thank you," concluded Sredojevic.
What are your memories of Sredojevic at Pirates?
