After appointing Daine Klate, Chippa United chairman Siviwe ‘Chippa’ Mpengesi has made a bizarre statement about former caretaker coach Kurt Lentjies, and his future with the club.
Klate was announced as new head coach recently, while Lentjies had been put on “special leave” by the club – a decision which confused many after how well Lentjies did after taking over from Gavin Hunt last season.
Chairman Mpengesi now confirmed a new twist, saying the former Mamelodi Sundowns and Maritzburg United midfielder who was understood to have officially retired is actually still contracted to the club as a player, and never had a contract as a coach.
“People who will understand, those who are in this business that as a coach, you must account to the board, you are employed by the club, but then once you become bigger than the club it’s unfortunate,” Mpengesi told Andile Ncube on Sports Night Amplified.
“So, the decision had to be taken. But of course, he still has a contract as a player, because remember, he is still on our books, in our books he’s still a player.
“His contract is ending end of this current season, he has never ever had a contract as a coach, he was always contracted as a player, so he still has a contract.
“So if he wants to come and play now, he is welcome to do so.”
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Mpengesi also explained that the club wanted to put an experienced next to Lentjies to lead the club as either a co-coach or assistant coach, but Lentjies refused, which ultimately led to his sacking.
“We were looking forward to helping him. Remember we’re talking about a player who just came out of playing,” the chairman added.
“We’re talking entry level in terms of coaching, it’s like you take a Grade R going and teach at University, but he did well.
“Come the end of season, we told him we wanted to get him an experienced coach as assistant or co-coach, somebody he can work with, who is more experienced and can help him, guide him.
“The games that we lost, even some draws you could see a lack of experience. At this level in football you need experience. That’s why your best in South Africa has got, not one, not two, but three head coaches because one man can’t make it. So you need many brains around you.
“As a club we had an obligation to assist the coaches but if the coach doesn’t want help, doesn’t want to take any advice, unfortunately the decision has to be taken. We never planned to fire him.”
However, it remains unclear whether Lentjies would, as it was assumed he had hung up his boots after making a brief cameo appearance in the Chilli Boys’ final game of the season.
