Serbian coach fills the gap…for now
Vladislav Heric has wasted no time joining Thanda Royal Zulu on the field.
BY this time next week, Thanda Royal Zulu FC will have a much clearer picture of where they are going – on and off the field.
In the topsy-turvy arena of professional soccer, the Amabhubesi lost one coach and gained another in the space of a couple of days and already there is a new spirit and desire to succeed.
Thami Ngubane’s sudden departure on Friday has been more than compensated for by the arrival of highly esteemed Serbian coach Vladislav Heric (48), whose record shows an uncanny ability to help promote teams from the National First Division to the PSL.
He did it with Black Leopards and Chippa United, and he wants to do the same for Thanda.
No sooner had Heric learned of Thanda’s misfortune when he pitched up at the team’s uMhlathuze stadium to announce his availability as head coach, pending the necessary paperwork – and speedy sourcing the funding necessary to keep him.
Heric was out on the field with his boys in no time.
Speaking to the Zululand Observer before Tuesday’s training session, he said he had always wanted to join Thanda as he admired their management ethic as a breath of fresh air in a sport characterised by many dubious dealings.
He is preparing the side to take on his former outfit, African Warriors on Saturday but the big test will come in a another home fixture on Tuesday when they take on fellow promotion-chasers Milano United, both games starting at 3.30pm.
The first encounter should be easy pickings, but Milano are currently second on the NFD log behind golden Arrows – Thami Ngubane’s new team – with Thanda third.
And he has already spotted a couple of things to rectify at both ends of the field, particularly when it comes to converting Thanda’s possession dominance into goals.
