A first gig in the top flight does not come any harder than sitting on the Chippa United bench, but Sinethemba Badela's experience in Morocco may have prepared him for what has the potential to be a bumpy ride.
Sure, the Chippa hot seat is not hotter than the ones at Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates or Mamelodi Sundowns, but it comes close. He is well aware of what he has got himself into, and he's ready to make a mark in his first spell as a head coach in the Betway Premiership.
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Badela joined the Chilli Boys after leaving Moroccan outfit Wydad Casablanca, where he served as an assistant to Rulani Mokwena. That experience in North Africa was valuable for Badela.
"I am feeling excited about it because it's a big task. You are trusted to lead a status worth R60 million plus, and you are trusted to lead a team that is the only one in the Premiership in the Eastern Cape. There is a lot of pressure when it comes to that, but pressure is privilege. We have to do our best, and I have to learn the league, and while I am learning the league, we have to pick up points, which is what is going to help us grow together as a group," Badela told Soccer Laduma.
"Morocco was very difficult in a lot of ways, but grateful for that opportunity. I am grateful to coach Rulani for giving me that platform to go work in Morocco because there you are training players who have played in Europe and who have been trained by top coaches in Europe.
"There you are in an environment that accepts nothing but a win, so that puts you under pressure every single day. You can't win one match and think you will celebrate for four or five weeks. You can't even celebrate for two to three days. You have to be ready for the next one, so I would say I learnt a lot in Morocco and I will forever be grateful for that opportunity, especially from the best coach (Mokwena) in Africa, in my opinion."
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Chippa have added a few new faces during the transfer window, announcing some relatively unknown talent and a few experienced campaigners for the balance. The club announced the arrivals of Thulani Mini, Khaya Mcefane, Thamsanqa Magwaza, Azola Tshobeni, Elson Sithole, Sammy Seabi and Goodman Mosele, who is on loan from Soweto giants Orlando Pirates.
"The chairman gave us a clear indication that he wants us to give fresh talent a chance, and that's what Chippa United have done before. And that's what they've done in the past too, with coaches. They've given unknown coaches chances and unknown players chances. That's what we are looking forward to doing."
Chippa's first test is the toughest of them all, against defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, on Saturday. It's a home match and a chance to record the first surprising result of the campaign.
