As an assistant coach at Orlando Pirates, Teboho Moloi had some of the most amazing experiences, such as winning a treble and going all the way to the CAF Champions League final in 2013. In this interview with Soccer Laduma, Moloi takes us down memory lane and talks to us about his role working under three different coaches - Julio Leal, Augusto Palacios and Roger de Sa.
The season
There are different times which I worked at Pirates, but there are a few which stand out. The two which stand out for me was in 2011/12 when we won the treble and when I was part of the team which went all the way to the CAF Champions League final in 2013.
Who was in the team
That team that won the treble had leaders. It was properly reinforced from the team which won the first treble, to help it defend the treble. At the back, Siyabonga Sangweni was brought in, as well as Thabo Matlaba. In the middle, Oupa Manyisa came alive even more because remember (Ruud) Krol had previously used him as a right back until a certain point. Upfront, Benni McCarthy was signed and we had Tokelo Rantie coming in as a youngster in the team. We had Moeneeb (Josephs), Lucky (Lekgwathi), Rooi (Mahamutsa), Oupa and Andile (Jali). To this day, we are yet to see a team with two versatile young central midfielders like Oupa and Andile. Between them, there were six trophies. They commanded that central midfield and it was special to see two youngsters with so much heart. We used to look at them as Iniesta and Xavi. Then we had Benni McCarthy, with all the experience and success he had in Europe. He came and became one with the team, with lots of respects and he contributed immensely. He brought all the knowledge and he had that winning mentality which he instilled in the players. I am not surprised to see him doing well as a coach because he instilled that European discipline, without throwing away the South African flair and culture that he knows we have. He was just a marvel to work with. One thing I liked about Benni is that he always told the players that he does not have the word 'lose' in his vocabulary. That's why we won the MTN8, Telkom Knockout and then we went on to defend the league title. Benni was pivotal in all these things. You can single him out because of his overseas experience, but we had so many other leaders in the team.
Who was the captain and why
The armband used to rotate. The band would be worn by Lucky and sometimes it would be worn by Siyabonga. At some point, Benni wore it and even Moeneeb. You had readily made captains in that team, but Lucky would always stand out because he was the one lifting the trophies.
My role as an assistant coach
To Augusto, I was more than an assistant, and Roger as well. I didn't feel like I was an assistant. Augusto would say if you see something, then stand up and fix it because if I tell him first, then maybe we would concede a goal in that split second. I was free under Augusto. Roger gave me so much freedom to speak and run certain exercises and he was not afraid to ask how we did certain things in the past. Roger was intelligent. He wouldn't change what was done, but he would rather add on to it. He would put the cherry on top. That was Roger for you and that makes you feel like more than an assistant coach. It makes you feel like you are the heart beat of the team. With Roger, it was more about team work. It was a great experience working with Augusto and Roger. I've never enjoyed myself so much under those two. With Julio, it was more about having a discussion. Once the discussion is done, he steers the ship and you watch him steer the ship.
Working with the different coaches
Having Julio, he has been to the camps in Brazil. Taking in that South American flavour was the most satisfying experience for me. And then going on to win the league with Augusto Palacios, after Leal left, was something very special for me, knowing that I started my development career under him and then he came to guide us through to winning the league title, which completed the second treble. It was very satisfying. It was sweet for me to work with Roger and go all the way to the Champions League final. Roger talk me about being a brand and he said he wants us to go to Africa and conquer. We reached the final and there is a lot that still stands out to date.
