Vila – What I Learned From ‘Monster’ Pitso

Sekhukhune United forward Sibusiso ‘Vila’ Vilakazi has revealed what he learnt from his former coach Pitso Mosimane, whom he called “a different type of monster”.  

Vilakazi spoke to iDiski Times senior writer Velile Mnyandu in edition 110 of the newspaper where he revealed working with Gavin Hunt at Bidvest Wits prepared him for working with Mosimane.

Vila says the former Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly coach stresses the importance of winning and taking care of one’s body, revealing he learned from Mosimane to also watch other sporting codes besides football to find out how other athletes stay at the top.

“Then I met coach Pitso, also a different monster. He stresses the importance of winning, the importance of taking care of the body,” Vilakazi told iDiski Times.

“He stresses the point that this might be your last game and tomorrow he will find another person because this is Mamelodi Sundowns. ‘If you can’t produce, we find somebody else. You sit outside as the train continues.’

“So the stress that coach Gavin [Hunt] had trained me mindfully now having to have coach Pitso on the other side was very motivating. He helped me to prepare for Pitso.

“So for me, all these coaches came at a different phase and I was able to be there with them because I think there was one point we were having a conversation with coach Pitso. He asked me, if I watched an NBA game, and NBA games normally play around 3am.

“We’re having a conversation about the AMs, when most of the guys are sleeping but him and I are engaging, speaking about the Golden State [Warriors]. I’m speaking about it and I’m like ‘okay, so you are usually up at this time’.

“So the mentality also then and finding out more about these players, how they live, how they train and how their mind is set up. It was more challenging.

“I could see I could sit with this coach and have a conversation and learn more about him and why not when he has won the CAF Champions League. He went on to play Club World Cup at Al Ahly and all of these great teams.

“I can’t even find a better word to describe him. I wouldn’t say ‘the greatest’ because I believe there is another name for him to mention and to be used for what he has done and what he will continue to do.

“I believe there is still so much more that he wants to achieve and hopefully, it comes true so that he is able to inspire the next generations of coaches.”

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You can read Vilakazi’s full interview with Mnyandu in the current edition of IDiski Times available on the website.