Doctor Khumalo says he misses coaching but…

Having started playing football professionally for Kaizer Chiefs as a 19-year-old back in the 1986/87 season, Doctor Khumalo’s life has always been about the game.

After retiring back in 2002, he has had coaching roles at Amakhosi and Baroka FC. But he has not been anywhere near the dugout since leaving Baroka two years ago.

Asked if he misses being in the dugout, he gave a coy answer and said he didn’t want to go into it as yet.

“Well it’s one thing I am passionate about I miss it, but for now I can’t talk about it,” said Khumalo during the Nedbank Cup Ke Yona Team’s open media day in Pretoria this week.

READ: No one can dislodge Khune at Chiefs – Akpeyi

Khumalo is one of the three men, with former Golden Arrows and Tembisa Classic coach, Khabo Zondo and former Orlando Pirates striker Jerry Sikhosana tasked with going around the country to unearth unpolished gems and feed them to the professional teams.

He said that the country was behind in terms of resources and structures that are conducive for the proper development of young players.

“These boys come from a different environment and into this high quality organised situation. You can’t expect them to adjust within a month. I feel pity for them because most of them it is the first time they do what we are doing here.

“We are still very far behind in South Africa in terms of producing more than 200 youngsters that we can pride ourselves with as a country. We will just get one, or four who are quality enough.

“It was evident at the Under-20 World Cup where we played Argentina who have their players playing for the senior teams at the likes of Atletico Madrid, Boca Juniors and River Plate.”

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