Stanely “Screamer” Tshabalala who passed away recently from complications resulting from a gunshot wound suffered in a house robbery in March was appointed national team coach of the South African football squad following the country’s readmission into FIFA in 1992.
His appointment came after the first coach Jeff Butler, was fired by the SA Football Association following discrepancies with his CV.
In July 1992 as South Africa made its return to international football Soccer News magazine which was published by Sportsco Publishing, featured Screamer in their July edition.
The focus of the interview was on the challenges of his new appointment.
As South Africa bids farewell to Tshabalala, Mukurukuru Media looks back with this interview from the now-defunct magazine.
Stanley “Screamer” Tshabalala was appointed assistant national coach when Jeff Butler was named as the man to lead South Africa out of the soccer wilderness. When Butler resigned a few weeks ago, the South African Football Association decided to give Screamer the chance he so richly deserves, and made him national coach. Soccer News spoke to the new national coach.
Soccer News: Were you surprised to have been made national coach?
Tshabalala: Yes, it came as a surprise. I fancied my chances, but after all the newspapers started writing about internationlal experience and all that, I was not sure. So it was a very pleasant surprise.
Soccer News: Do you regard it an honour of being national coach?
Tshabalala: Yes, it is the most important job. It is a big job. I think of it as the master graduation from coaching. You start at the club level and then work your way to the top. There is no higher coaching position. I know it is a hard job, but I always believe in myself. I will do things my way. I believe in certain things and I think that is the way things should be done. Even if I have not coached overseas, I have a lot of coaching experience from here and that is what I will be using.
Soccer News: Do you think there is extra pressure on you because it is the first time this country has a real national squad?
Tshabalala: Yes, and it will mount on we play our first games against Cameroon and then against Zimbabwe. I know I have not yet seen these teams, but I can assure you that I will not go into the games unprepared. I am studying videos of matches involving Cameroon, and I can see that they are a very good side. Physically, they are strong and they play direct football. I do not think they have as much flair and skill as our players, and I firmly believe South Africans have more skill and flair than players from other African countries. They might have a fair share of flair, but here we have it in abundance. But because it is our first game, we will also be able to surprise them. They will not know what to expect. This works in our advantage.
Soccer News: How will you go into the match?
Tshabalala: I will tell my team to contain them for the first 10 to 15 minutes, so that I can see what system they are using. Then we will break them down and go for goals.
Soccer News: How do you feel about so many other people telling whom to pick and whom to leave out?
Tshabalala: You can imagine what would happen if I listened to everybody – this suggestion, I can’t. At the end of the day, I happen to be the coach. I started off very hard in my career. Nobody made it easy for me when I started. As you know, white coaches then invaded this country and they have take advantage of the situation, so I would say I know what I am doing. I know what I want from my team. I know how they are to play.
If you look at Sundowns – Sundowns were playing my style. Ever since I have left them, they have not played that style again. It is the same with the national team. I might not have the international experience, but at the end of the day I know what I want from my team. They are going to play what I want them to play – my own style.
I did it at Sundowns, and I will do it again with the national team. In Durban the guys played like they have been playing together for three months, even though it was their first game.
They stringed the ball together. If I see a team make 10 or more passes – for me it’s a sign of a good side – I have balance between flair and battlers – is a good one. I may need a few more battlers.
As you know I have only Neil Tovey as a battler in the midfield, though I still believe that my team must have a mix between flair and a high workrate. The have to know that they must chase and tackle and defend. So at the end it does not bother me if someone says I should have picked that one. I know what I want.
Soccer News: Are you still looking for other players?
Tshabalala: There is a foundation, but the door is still open for other players who are picking up form or who are doing well. You can never stop looking for good players in your side. You can never stop reinforcing your side. If you say you have a good side and you do not need reinforcing then it means you believe you have reached to [sic] and that will never be true. My door will always be wide open for as many good players as I can find. Right now, I am looking at Roger Links to include him in my side, He is not a bad player, He has got vision. So I am looking at that, I looking at other options.
Soccer News: Was it your choice to include Swiss-based Augustine Makalakalane in the side to meet Cameroon?
Tshabalala: Of course. He has international experience from playing overseas. He will also motivate the other guys. They will look at him and say if he can make it overseas then so can I.
If I had my way, I would recall all guys playing overseas to come and help us. Because at the end of the day, you have to respect their experience. Others I am looking towards Eric Tinkler and Pitso Mosimane. I know Eric as a very good left back from his days at Wits.
Soccer News: Will you be travelling throughout the region?
Tshabalala: Yes I want to travel. I was invited to go to Lesotho to watch a match there. I hope that SAFA can send me overseas to get some ideas from there, too. I want to keep abreast of the latest trends. I believe in taking things from everywhere and they putting together to form my own thing.
Soccer News: Will you be working with other coaches?
Tshabalala: Yes, of course. I would like to invite the other coaches to contribute. I do not believe I am a know-all coach. I would always like to put my head together with other coaches. Let’s sit down and speak about the common thing – football – and they can help me out. Other coaches as well, I want to know the progress of some of their players and they can recommend new players to me.
