With the rise of second assistants in South African football, there have been different opinions on whether it is working or not for the advancement of the game.
This morning, former Kaizer Chiefs and Cape Town City midfielder Lebogang Manyama made a return to football in a different role as a coach.
The 33-year-old retired from professional football in June, having struggled to get a club since picking a career-threatening injury while still playing for Amakhosi.
The Citizens have roped him in to be a second assistant in coach Eric Tinkler's technical team where he will work alongside Diogo Peral.
Veteran football administrator Peter Koutroulis believes that the rise of second assistants in local football could be good and bad, depending on how it is done.
The Good
"What I can tell you is that everybody is always trying to copy Sundowns. That doesn't apply only to the technical team but with the style of play as well. You can see some of the teams trying to play like Sundowns. What people need to understand is that if you want to try and do things the way Sundowns do them, you need to go and find the right players. The issue of adding a second assistant coach should be done in agreement with the head coach as some people feel that six eyes on the bench are better than four eyes. With regards to Manyama re-joining Cape Town City, I know him as a player and therefore I wouldn't know how he will do as an assistant coach. I don't know what the reasoning behind it from club owner John Comitis and the head coach Eric Tinkler was. What I know is that Eric Tinkler is a good coach and he is an example of why former players should be given opportunities after their playing days. At the end of the day, I don't know what's going on there and if Eric Tinkler is happy with this appointment, I don't have the authority to discuss it," said Koutroulis.
The Bad
"I am not saying that it is bad to have two assistant coaches and a head coach but I am saying that you need to have the right tools and resources for it. This all should be done in consultation with the head coach. If the head coach agrees to have a second assistant then it is not a problem. Look at what happened between Mr. Steve Komphela and Rulani (Mokwena) at Sundowns. Why did Mr. Steve Komphela leave Sundowns? What was the reason behind changes in the technical team? I don't know from which publication but I read recently that Mr. Komphela might still be earning a salary from Sundowns," he said.
The Ugly
"The most important thing is for former players to equip themselves with the right qualifications and knowledge to become better coaches. Another thing is, how many coaches have had good first season with a club and after that they ran away to look for more money and only to get disappointed in the end? For example, Rulani left Sundowns for Pirates and didn't do well. He went to Chippa United and he wasn't there for long before going back to Sundowns. It depends on which club you are with. At Sundowns it is easier for any coach and that is what I can tell you. Sundowns have the best players," concluded Koutroulis.
Do you agree with Koutroulis on second assistants?
