Matlhaku clarifies new Gunners� role
Thato Kala | Thursday September 11, 2014 10:58
Matlhaku, who quit Gunners exactly a year ago, was this week appointed as assistant coach and head of development. He said while he will assist the head team coach, his primary designation is head of development.
The club’s management have been courting him to assist Serbian, Dragojlo Stanojlovic to stabilise the team after an indifferent start to the season. Thabo Motang quit as assistant coach at Gunners this year.
Matlhaku has said his passion lies in development and after deliberations with the club, he agreed he would double as assistant coach, although his principal mission would be to ensure Gunners start producing their own players in the near future.
Gunners’ chief executive officer, Orayyah Dada introduced Matlhaku to the players on Tuesday morning.
“China is already on board. I am excited about Matlhaku’s addition to Gunners. I think it will be a good marriage,” she told Mmegi Sport yesterday. She said the plan was to have Matlhaku set up junior development structures but also to assist the coach.
“His job is assistant coach/head of development. I have asked him to come on board because the senior team needs a lot of work. For now, he will focus on that, but junior development is definitely on the cards.”
Dada said Matlhaku was happy with the arrangement and got a positive welcome when she introduced him to the players.
“He is happy to be here; I went and introduced him to the players. It was a positive atmosphere when I introduced him, both the players and technical team were extremely happy.”
Malthaku said he was thrilled by prospects of setting up a development side.
He plans to scout for talent in schools in Lobatse. He is aware development will not be an overnight success and speaks of at least four years before achieving tangible results.
In the meantime he has to worry about Gunners’ poor start. The team has collected four points from a possible 12 this season after winning once, drawing once and losing twice.
They host Notwane at the New Lobatse Stadium on Saturday.