Dladla sifting through the pack looking for fighters at Swallows

Interim Swallows FC coach Simo Dladla has been put in an otherwise awkward position as he was installed to head the team but for just two games. 

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This was after Brandon Truter was given two weeks’ leave. In South Africa usually, when something like that happens it means the coach has been constructively fired. 

Dladla fuelled the rumours in his post-match talk after Friday’s DStv Premiership match when he said he was instilling his philosophy on the players. 

He was on Tuesday asked to clarify what he meant as his statement was open to many interpretations and some may have done so incorrectly.  

“I have a very good working relationship with coach Brandon,” said Dladla. “Obviously I am supporting him as a first assistant. Supporting his ideas and methods. We had gone so many hours without scoring. 

“So, I have a different way of doing things in regards to that as a person. That is however not to say we did not share the same ideas in terms of how we see the game. 

“The philosophy for me is more of the behaviour in certain moments of the game. If we are on the ball and when we don’t have the ball. Behaviour in the final third, behaviour in the middle of the park and in defence…. That is what I meant when I said I am trying to get my ideas across. I am trying to get that behaviour. 

“We need to be arrogant on the ball, we need to boss the game. We need to be relentless in defence and we need to have calculated numbers in the opponent box when we attack. That’s what I meant. But in essence, we have a good relationship and as an assistant, I have to rally behind him in what he feels is right for the club.”  

Asked how the news was received by the players who must have been confused by the sudden leave enforced on their coach, Dladla said: “What actually happened is that coach Brandon had a lengthy meeting with the club management. After that, I was called in and was told that they had amicably decided that I take control of the two games. 

“It was taken across to everyone. Obviously, they were shocked, people were surprised… It would take time to sink in. It was and still is a difficult task to take everyone on board in terms of the way forward. 

“But in the past few training sessions, we have been looking at players who really want to play, players who want to make a difference. Players who realise that we have a problem, we are not winning games and realise that everyone is trying to chip in and get the team in the right direction.”

Dladla will be in charge for his second game when Swallows host Cape Town City in the second leg of the MTN8 semi-finals at Dobsonville Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

The first leg ended in a goalless draw and Dladla expects a more open game for the second leg and that he hopes they go to the penalty shootout.