We don't bribe anyone

In this interview with Soccer Laduma's Tshepang Mailwane, Makola opens up about how tough life has been in terms of trying to secure promotion to the ABC Motsepe League, but also makes it clear that he won't throw in the towel. He also has his say on the new Pirates coach and the signing of Sipho Mbule.

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Starting at the bottom as a coach is never easy and former Orlando Pirates midfielder Mpho Makola can attest to that. Currently the coach and co-owner at Viasport FC in the Hollywoodbets League, formerly known as the SAB League, Makola is learning firsthand that playing beautiful football will not always do the trick to secure promotion when you are playing in the amateur leagues.

Tshepang Mailwane: Hola "Bibo", thanks for making time to chat with us. You had an interesting season in the Hollywoodbets League as coach and co-owner of Viasport FC and you narrowly missed out on promotion. Tell us about the season...

Mpho Makola: We lost in the final game of the promotion race. It was my second full season as a coach. The transition has not been easy, but I'd advise anyone who wants to coach to start at the bottom and have a feel of it and decide if that's what you want to do. When you coach, it's no longer about you. You've got 35 or 40 other human beings to look after. It's not easy, but it's worth it in the end when you see the progress of the players. I'd say the second season was better than the first one. In our first season, we didn’t know much. My business partner (Tshepo Mabona) and I just bought a team, and I didn’t know how to coach and he didn’t know how to be a chairman. We learnt from our mistakes. We came second in the league in our first season and there was so much to learn from. That’s why our second season was a smoother ride in the league. But it was a long and demanding season, be it financially, emotionally and time wise. But when you see progress, it makes it worthwhile.

TM: How did you miss out on promotion?