Matthews Explains Tembo Decision – iDiski Times

SuperSport United CEO Stan Matthews has explained why the DStv Premiership side has decided to part ways with head coach Kaitano Tembo.

Tembo had served the club for 23 years, initially as players, later as assistant coach to Gavin Hunt, Stuart Baxter and Eric Tinkler before becoming head coach himself in 2018.

Of his 135 games in charge, he won 55, drawing 38 and losing 42, while he’s lifted one trophy, namely the 2019/20 MTN8, but CEO Stan Matthews explained that recent results caused for the club to act.

“I can confirm that Kaitano Tembo has left the club with immediate effect. The team will be taken by Andre Arendse, Thabo September and Grant Johnson until the end, of the season for the remaining six matches,” Matthews said.

“Obviously a very sad day in the life of our football club. Kaitano has been a loyal, long serving member of the club for 23 years, served as well as a player and then in the academy coaching structure, he did extremely well, won trophies at junior level and earned his his place as an assistant coach to Gavin Hunt, later to Stuart Baxter and Eric Tinkler. 

“And grabbed the opportunity to be a head coach with both hands. One trophy took us to two Cup finals, promoted so many good young players into the team and helped us in the transfer market, where we’ve done some nice lucrative deals since coach has been in charge. 

“So you know, obviously, mixed emotions because he’s contributed so much, and we all love him so much at the club. He’s been a permanent fixture for over two decades, something very rare and not just that, he’s also a humble, hardworking, tremendously nice guy. 

“Everybody’s heart is sore at the club today. Unfortunately, in football, we’re judged by results, and we’ve now gone 11 games, we’ve had 11 points, we’ve tossed away some games that we were well in front, and should have wrapped up the points and thrown away lots of points in the league. 

“And then we’ve gone and lost to a National First Division side in the Nedbank Cup, which is something that’s not happened to us before. 

“We certainly don’t think that we should have lost that game. And unfortunately, the string of results just became too much. 

“That’s the hard nature of football, but nothing can erase, what Kaitano has contributed to this club – the third longest-serving coach in the history of the club. And, you know, someone who will always be remembered so fondly, so kindly and who knows in the future, the doors will always be open to Kaitano.”

Official: SuperSport Part Ways With Tembo