Between September 2019 and March 2020, Jozef Vukusic was coaching AmaZulu FC, having previously been with Polokwane City. The Slovakian mentor had also been at FC Cape Town in his career. No wonder he has fond memories about his time in South Africa. Before the club's sale from Dr. Patrick Sokhela to the Zungu Investment Company (ZICO) three years ago, the coach had his contract terminated by the Durban-based outfit and the matter has since been under the authorities through lawyers. Usuthu have since been ordered to compensate Vukusic for the termination. In this interview, Soccer Laduma's Masebe Qina speaks to the 58-year-old tactician about this and other developments in his career. He also delves on his trips around the world in recent times, as well as his time at Rise and Shine and one of his former players who has impressed him as he is now a coach.
Masebe Qina: Coach, what have you been up to since you left South Africa in 2020?
Jozef Vukusic: It's been a long time since I was last in South Africa, almost three years, to be exact. Since I left South Africa, I have been coaching in my city in Košice in Slovakia. My city in Slovakia is the second biggest city in the country and it has a big football history. But after not-so-good moments with new investors and people who were trying to get involved in the club, I moved on. I was trying to help the club to get to the Premier League in (the) one-and-a-half years that I have been there. I joined the club during the time when it was COVID. I left South Africa during COVID time and it was good to be with the family after a long time. After last season, I decided to take one year off. I'm talking about this season because I wanted to learn a new language, which is Spanish. I have done it. I was in Spain for two months, I learnt Spanish and I studied football in that country. I have worked in Germany before for seven years, and I was very connected to England. A few days ago, I came back from Costa Rica, Peru and Argentina.
MQ: What were you in those countries for?
JV: I was there for football connections. Now I speak six languages, and I have had good experiences from the countries that I have been to. For example, when I was in Argentina, I experienced how top football is in that country. They have a top league with top teams and almost all their games are sold out. I'm talking about 70 000, 60 000, 50 000 people watching the teams in almost all the games. Almost all the games there are sold out and the atmosphere at the stadiums is always at its utmost best and they deserve to be the world champions, I can confirm that to you.
MQ: Tell us more about your time touring the world.
JV: In Spain, Costa Rica, Peru and in Argentina, I was in touch with people from clubs and the agents, but I was not active and under contract with any club. I was more or less absent, and I was studying the kind of football that is being played in those countries. But I do go to Germany every two years because I have a German coaching licence and I go there for (the) international coaching congress.
MQ: What kind of a project would interest you in your next role?
JV: Now that I have come back home after I decided to take a one-year hiatus, I will consider my future, but one thing I can confirm to you is that coaching is something I want to continue with. I have had some talks and meetings with some people, and while I have experience as a sports director and other roles, the closest position to me is that of being a coach. For the time being, I am dealing with the options that I have for the new season.
MQ: Are any of those options from South Africa?
JV: Yeah, you know, I have coached in five countries from three different continents, so I've got friends and people from everywhere that I have been involved through football. I coached in Africa for six years. I'm talking about my time coaching in South Africa and in Libya. I have coached in Kazakhstan and in Latvia. So, I have that experience. I am in touch with a lot of people. I will look at all the options and projects because I like to work at good clubs and that is what I will be aiming at for this summer.
MQ: Have you been keeping tabs with what is happening in Mzansi?
JV: I have been in touch with people in South Africa, and even this season I have been in touch with people when some of the clubs were not doing well. They were asking what I have been up to and all those things, but I was in my trips in Spain and South America, which I have told you about. I apologised to all the people who were enquiring, but now that we will soon be approaching summer, we'll see what will happen.
MQ: Tell us about the case with AmaZulu FC, where the club has been ordered by FIFA to compensate you.
JV: To be honest, it was not a big issue, but when I left South Africa, it was during COVID time. I had been on special leave while still having two years on my contract with the club. In the end, my contract was terminated while the season had not finished. I came back home and through the media, I learnt that the club was sold. Before that, I had some nice meetings with the chairman, Dr. Patrick Sokhela. He is a very nice guy and we even discussed about the future. You must remember that when I joined AmaZulu, the club was in big trouble and I told them that we would fight to stay in the league. In the beginning, we had some good period, but then there were also not-so-good moments, and with COVID and everything (going on), my contract was terminated. So, when the club was sold and the new people came in, I didn't know a lot about what happened. It is something that is being communicated through the lawyers. But I have been following AmaZulu and I was happy with the new owners in the way that they have been bringing good players to the club and I know that the team played in CAF. I am not happy now that they are fighting down there and the situation is different. Like I say, I still had two years on my contract with the club and I had my plans with AmaZulu and I didn't know that the club would be sold. That's the only thing that surprised me.
MQ: Have you spoken to the current Usuthu owners?
JV: We don't know each other. But I'm the biggest fan of the club and I follow the team and their results. I am impressed with the kind of players they brought to the club. What I heard is that everything is under control, but for me, it is (a) professional issue and there's nothing wrong. I remember all the good things that happened to me when I was there. Like I said, the chairman is a very nice guy and we had nice meetings.
MQ: So you have been following the PSL since you left the country?
JV: Of course! I follow all the leagues and clubs that I have coached at. I am following everything to do with South African football and by this, I mean including the First Division (Motsepe Foundation Championship) because there is Polokwane City there, which I coached. They are doing well and I am following Cape Town Spurs because I worked in Cape Town during my time with FC Cape Town. Even with my family, we follow everything to do with South Africa because we stayed there for five years. I am in contact with many players that I have coached and they send me messages. For example, I am aware that Jabu Maluleke is now a coach and I am very happy that some of my former players are continuing in football in that capacity. Also, I would be happy if the South African national team could play international and I would like to see them at the World Cup.
MQ: You told us about how you worked with your former boss at AmaZulu. What was it like to work with your former boss at Polokwane City, Johnny Mogaladi?
JV: (Giggles) I notice that people like that question. I get asked that question a lot. But I must say that what I can tell you about myself and the Polokwane City chairman is that we are both emotional people. I am a European professional coach and he's got (a) different mentality. But we did respect each other. I felt like he respected me a lot and I respected him as my chairman. What I liked the most is that he left me to do my work my way. In the end, we got the results and we made some progress with the team. We were united as a team and in the end, when I left we shook hands and we wished each other all the best. After I left, I was not happy that the club got relegated and I wish that the team can get back to the league. I try to keep good relationships wherever I work.
MQ: Coach, thank you for your time. Wishing you everything of the best.
JV: Thank you.
