I started with Moroka Swallows as player-coach and was with them three more times, saving them from certain relegation each time – details later. I then took PUBS in Springs, followed by Witbank Aces twice, then Benoni United, then African Wanderers, then Rabali Blackpool, then Dynamos, then Dangerous Darkies, then AmaZulu FC, then Bloemfontein Celtic, then Tembisa Classic, then Black Leopards. There was also Real Rovers and Value Rockets (lower ranks). All these teams were troubled and based all over the country. I was called a few months or weeks before the season's end, with all these teams fighting relegation, some impossible to save, but I did it with all of them. I'm the only coach to never ever spend a cent on a new player. I did it with the same players I found, who were called not good enough – details to follow. I had to leave my family behind as there was no job security at any of these clubs. With the Durban clubs, I was flying each week and came home for two days to and from Venda by car.
At Black Leopards, I came home one Sunday morning, just after midnight. At 02h00, our dog woke us barking mad. As I went to put on the outside lights, I saw five shadows on the wall. I screamed at them and they jumped over the wall to flee. They thought I was in Venda. My wife and son were going to be in great danger if I had not come home. It was a big story in one daily newspaper. So, not many coaches would do the job that I did, that's for sure. Now to details of my first spell with Swallows… I took the team to a cup semi-final against Wits University (now Bidvest Wits). A storm stopped the game after one hour. We played on as a friendly, but then the League decided it was an official game. We lost in court. I took PUBS from bottom and to the Champions of Champions final against Chiefs, losing 2-1. We did not have a training ground. We trained at Pilkington Company in a small park with no goals. I took AmaZulu to the Bob Save Super Bowl final against Jomo Cosmos after saving them from certain relegation. I also took Witbank Black Aces to the final against Swallows. Despite all these teams parking at the basement when I was called to save them, not one of them ever paid me for saving them from relegation despite promising to do so. I had no contract and trusted the owners' words. The only two real gentlemen owners were Mr Dlamini at AmaZulu and Henry Mhlongo at Aces. I've still got many bounced cheques from some of those clubs.
Here are some interesting details… When I saved Swallows from relegation against Hellenic, after the game I was told I don't have to come for the last game in Cape Town. They flew without me despite fans' protests, and then lost 4-1 to Seven Stars. At Real Rovers, I had no car and we had to play in Venda against Vaal Professionals and we won a 5-4 thriller. We drove back to Polokwane at 22h00. Officials took me to the highway, hitchhiking for a car to take me back to Edenvale. At 23h00, a car stopped with three Swallows fans who recognised me and they took me back. I did not return, but had the pleasure to relegate Rovers with Swallows in the last game of the season in Polokwane with a 1-0 win.
Talk about revenge for mistreating a coach!
I saved Leopards from certain relegation. They called me with nine games to go, stone last, unhappy players. Four coaches failed before me, in the same season, but I won all nine, beating all the teams 3-0, including Chiefs at Ellis Park. I was voted Coach of the Month, but the owner did not attend because I told an official they never paid me a cent. I was never ever fired by a club because I achieved miracles everywhere, but I left after not being paid or because my job was done and I could not return because of distance. I loved the fans, they loved me and gave me names like Soweto, King of the Zulus, Magic Man, Lion of the North. The journey was worth it. I could write a book. I played in Austria, Germany, Canada, USA, and for Powerlines Germiston Callies and Swallows in South Africa. I'm still training three hours each day and I'm turning 75 on 30 August. If you need to call me, you're most welcome. Greetings to Peter (du Toit, Soccer Laduma founder, and CEO).
