A prank gone wrong? Ferreira explains spitting incident 

Veteran coach Johnny Ferreira has admitted that he understands why a Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila player was offended following a spitting incident at training. 

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Ferreira was suspended by TTM in March following the incident which happened at training. 

But he says it was meant as a prank and it is something he has been doing almost every day for the past 30 years that he has been a coach. 

“The club said that there was an altercation with the player and I spat at him, which is not the case at all,” said Ferreira on Marawa Sports Worldwise on Tuesday.

“I would never do that to anyone. It sounds like there was a motivation for the club to get rid of me. 

“On the results side of things, we have 20 points from 25 matches, 17 of those would have been accumulated by me. 

“The results have never been discussed by the club but my opinion is that there was an ulterior motive from the club,” he added.

Ferreira said what had happened was different and he was almost surprised when the player took offence, and he feels bad that the player was offended.

One offended is too many, says Ferreira

“I have taken stretching exercises with the players lying down doing the stretches. 

“I throw the water in the sky and make it as if it is raining, which is usually well received by the players and they laugh. 

“That’s happened over the last 30 years on a daily basis. I understand from his side why it offended him and he took issue with it. 

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“His father is very unhappy, but I have spoken to him and the player and apologised.

“I have to make sure that it doesn’t happen again because one person being offended is one too many. 

“I have never had an incident of racism and it was sad for me to see the club drive that narrative because it was far from the truth,” added Ferreira.

The well-travelled coach has had stints at various National First Division sides and says he still wants to help one win promotion before he calls time on his coaching career. 

The 65-year-old mentor has worked at Black Leopards, Uthongathi FC, Black Aces and many other teams.