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Baroka FC’s assistant coach Bushy Moloi has applauded the club’s leadership for giving youngsters a chance that,he says, contributed to the team’shistoric victory over Orlando Piratesin the Telkom Knockout finallast Saturday.
Moloi said their Telkom Knockout 3-2 penalty shoot-out win, after a 2-2 draw, with Pirates on Saturday would not have happened were it not for chairperson Khurishi Mphahlele’s leadership.
“I call him Dr Mphahlele because he has played a big role in Limpopo,” Moloi said.
He also praised head coach Wedson Nyirenda and his spiritual father, known only as FLG Modise.
Moloi said he had been a Modise follower from his days at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).
The coach believes he is the one who helped them to victory in two Varsity Football titles and now the Telkom Knockout title.
After leading Tshwane TUT to a 2-1 victory over Wits University to claim their second title in September, success seems to follow Moloi. “I didn’t bring anything [to Baroka] but faith in God. I think that, besides my intellectual understanding of football, I put God first.”
Moloi joined Bakgaga last month and he told City Press that his contract would run until June.
While at TUT, he coached goalkeeper Sikhumbuzo Ncube.
In September, he predicted that Ncube could play for a PSL team. His prediction turned out to be right – Ncube and another former TUT player, Vusi Sibiya, are now showcasing their talent at Baroka.
Moloi said it was a blessing to be reunited with the players.
“I didn’t think I would be in the same [professional] team with them. But this shows that, if you give these youngsters a chance, they will do wonders for you.”
Despite centre-back Sibiya commanding a regular place in the Polokwane outfit, Ncube is yet to make his debut for the team.
“We have the best goalkeeper in Elvis Chipezeze, so Sikhumbuzo must be patient and work hard to break into the team.”
Moloi compared the players’ situation to the time when young Itumeleng Khune was fighting for the number one spot with Brian Baloyi at Kaizer Chiefs.
Chipezeze has continued to produce great performances since the Telkom Knockout final, when he was in superb form.
He repeated the same high level of performance in Tuesday’s Absa Premiership match, which ended in a goalless draw against Mamelodi Sundowns at Lucas Moripe Stadium – a display that earned him the man of the match accolade.
Moloi said Baroka’s historic win would help to change the negative sentiments about Limpopo.
“I hope all the bad things that people say about Limpopo will change. We are in the game of football and not politics,” he said.
Moloi helped TUT win last year’s University Sports SA Football Club Championship, and won the coach of the tournament award. The team lost in the final of the Varsity Football competition to the University of Pretoria, but it came back strongly this year, winning the Varsity Football title.
He also mentored Themba Ndlovu and King Ndlovu, who now play for Black Leopards.
