The newly appointed head coach, Zipho Dlangalala, is out to prove that the current standings on the National First Division log are not an accurate reflection of AmaTuks’s playing abilities.

The team is currently 11th after only winning only five of the 18 games played. On Saturday at home AmaTuks will be playing Witbank Spurs. Dlangala is realistic as to what awaits him and the team.

“Witbank Spurs is on a high since the former Bafana coach, Shakes Mashaba, took charge. I see Saturday as a 50/50-game. Spurs got big robust players who tend to prefer the option of playing the high ball. It would be foolish to take them on in their own game especially since they won their last game.

“I want the AmaTuks players to play to their strengths. Our players might be smallish, but they are quick, skilful and creative. So I am confident that they will create scoring opportunities.”

It could be said that Dlangalala has been around the “block” as a coach in South African football. He has been an assistant coach at Mamelodi Sundowns and Chippa United, helped to improve the skills of the under-23 players at Orlando Pirates and has been a head coach at the Royal Eagles. 

However, he has always had the utmost of admiration for the way the coaches at Tuks went about doing things. 

“From a financial viewpoint Tuks might not be the biggest club, but they have something that can’t be bought. That is a forever quest to be better than they were the last time they played. For everyone involved it is constantly about excellence. That is why I am excited to be involved.”

It is vital to Dlangalala that every player at TuksFootball should appreciate what the club offers. 

“It is the biggest football club in South Africa with the most players and fields as well as excellent facilities and support staff. Clubs all over the world would like to have what Tuks has.”

Dlangala is realistic as to the challenge that awaits him. He admits it would be foolish to expect things to change for the better at AmaTuks immediately. 

“There are still 12 games, in other words, 36 points to play for. I see us being involved in a race. The question is how we are going to go about it. It would be foolish to sprint off hoping for the best. Just ‘walking’ at a leisurely pace expecting results is also not an option. I told the players to think about.”

When talking football, it is clear that Dlangala values player input as a coach.

“The game of football demands brains. So it is important that players should constantly be thinking about solutions for problems they might possibly face on the field. No coach has all the answers."

A personal approach, very much like a father figure, is also essential to Dlangala.

“I believe in addressing players on their first names as that is the first step to winning their confidence. It improves any players self-image if they realise a coach know who they are. I am proud to say that since starting to work with the team on Sunday I am already able to call half the team by their real names.

“As a coach, I am very clear in what I demand to see, and I will challenge players openly. However, the one thing I will never do is to criticise any player in front of teammates harshly. If there is a real problem, I will set up a one on one discussion.

“The bottom line is that every player should be confident in the abilities they bring to the team and feel appreciated for it."