Former Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane says he was left “dumbfounded” by the recent comments of TS Galaxy coach Sead Ramovic over his former player Sibusiso Vilakazi.
Vilakazi left Galaxy two days before the closure of the January transfer window after both parties agreed to mutually terminate his contract.
ALSO READ | MAMELODI SUNDOWNS DEFENDER THAPELO MORENA SMILING AFTER VISITING A DENTIST
There has since been no bad blood publicly between either party, despite reports that Vilakazi had been demoted to the DStv Diski Challenge team before his departure – which were denied by his agent Mike Makaab.
This week, Ramovic then explained his view on Vilakazi’s exit, insinuating that he didn’t train as well as other players.
“About Vila, fantastic player, fantastic name, great career,” he said during the Nedbank Cup press conference ahead of his side’s clash with Amavarara.
“But again, me as a coach, I don’t care about age, I don’t care about names. I just look at the things that I see on the field.
“And if we have players on the field that give 100% and train well, give a lot of effort, this players will play. The players that don’t do every day the best, will have a difficult time, of course.
“But I think it’s not only at my club, it’s also at other clubs the same rules. Every coach tries to pick up the best XI. Why? Because we all want to win games.
“I would really be not smart enough if I put a player on the field that didn’t show me the whole week that he’d like to play, that I should put him to play.
“Because how big is the chance that if you didn’t train well, that you will suddenly play well. I think it’s a small chance. Better to play with players that train well, that have the right attitude, great lifestyle… I think I was a player, I know if I don’t train well, I won’t play well.
“This is my experience and this is the way it is [here].”
Ramovic’s comments, which were shared by iDiski Times senior writer and SABC journalist Velile Mnyandu, were picked up by Mosimane, who was left surprised at the tone and defended his former player on social media.
“I am dumbfounded by the tone of this interview. I trained Sibusiso Vilakazi for many years competitively and consistently for +6 years,” he wrote.
“A true professional (on & off ) who respects the game and coaches. Knows sports science and game tactics, opinionated too.
ALSO READ | FORMER ORLANDO PIRATES COACH COULD BE SET TO JOIN KAIZER CHIEFS
Sibusiso Vilakazi was also [a] coach in my dressing room and inside the pitch. One of the players who kept the dressing room quiet but spoke football tactics all the time.
“He lead the Football conditioning training sessions which are usually very tough.A critic to his game.”
0 Comments