Mabhuti Khenyeza reflects on experience as a ‘belittled coach’

Golden Arrows co-head coach Mabhuti Khenyeza has opened up on how he has survived the challenge of being ‘belittled’ as a coach.

Khenyeza and Vusimuzi Vilakazi were appointed as Abafana Bes’thende interim joint coaches after the club sacked Lehlohonolo Seema before the end of the 2021/22 season.

The pair took over on a permanent basis during the PSL off-season in June last year.

Many had question marks about whether they would prove equal to the task as they didn’t have a track record of success in the top-flight.

Having passed that difficult phase, Khenyeza says they grasped some important lessons throughout their first season. He believes they will utilise that experience to drive the club forward in the following campaign.

MABHUTI KHENYEZA ON EXPERIENCE AS A ‘BELITTLED’ COACH

“When we started, we had to introduce some of the things like our concept to play at the club,”

“It takes some time again. And remember you are working with unknown players, competing with the well-known ones, with teams that have big names.

“But it was good for us because it gave us a challenge as ‘belittled’ coaches. Because you think we must have a tummy in order to be respected as a coach in South Africa or you must be bald…I don’t know.

“As small coaches, it challenged us but it was a good experience. We were able to get through the phase.

“There’s no important experience than what we came across [this season]. Now we need to move to the next step.

“It’s not about life on the pitch, there’s a lot of things that we must manage. You lose games, you find a way to bounce back, show that face of being happy in front of players but deep down [you’re not].

“There are other things we need to pay attention to. I can make an example, some things that haunted us are set pieces and count-attacks but we were able to underline in order to make sure that next season we improve.

“But we have to experience them first in order to fix them.”   

Arrows currently occupy the ninth place on the log standings with 34 points after 28 games.

Ahead of them is a fixture up against AmaZulu on Saturday, 13 May at Princess Magogo Stadium at 3 pm.

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