Downs coach responds to Hunt jab

SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt grabbed headlines last month for criticising the modern football language used by some of his Premier Soccer League counterparts, saying he did not understand some of the cliches.

œRest defense, transitions, half spaces and critical spaces are the recently dominant big words often used in explaining tactics, and Hunt, on the day his SSU return was confirmed, appeared to mock the terminology.

Happy birthday Coachy @gavinhunt12 ? good to have you back!

Good luck in the half space in Zone 58 ? pic.twitter.com/23cVle3mar

” Chad Kelly-Klate (@CKlatey) July 11, 2022

On Thursday, his Mamelodi Sundowns counterpart was reluctantly coerced into some sort of response by the media.

œNo, I am not getting into that space. I have big respect for coach Gavin and have a clear understanding - and I always say this to a lot of coaches when they ask me for advice - I am the last person to give advice because I don™t have as much of the experience and the knowledge as people like coach Gavin, Mokwena said during his press conference ahead of hosting Kaizer Chiefs this weekend in the DStv Premiership.

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œThat™s number one, and number two is that the responsibilities of coaches is three things - respect the game of the past, if you™ve no respect for the game of the past you™ve got absolutely zero possibilities of moving forward.

Mokwena insisted the game was evolving.

œ[Then] understand the game of the present - what is happening, what are these people doing. What is Thomas Tuchel [Chelsea] doing, what is Pep Guardiola [Manchester City] doing, what is Jurgen Klopp [Liverpool] doing. What are they doing from a training methodology perspective or managerial perspective, training curriculum and tactics and style of play? And then anticipate the game of the future. That™s your last responsibility as a coach, he explained.

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He added that his colleagues could be left behind if they do not try to find a balance between what is old and what is relevant and trending.

œIf you don™t anticipate the game of the future you get left behind and always catching up. I have big respect for the game of the past, and understand the game of the present. That may sometimes mean the game of the present in South Africa might sometimes be the game of the past in Europe because we are still trying to catch-up, and that is the reality. But we are making very big strides, you can see with the level of coaching in SA. The gaps are closing and teams are very well and better coached, said Mokwena.

By: Mazola Molefe