We will not give in

Madinda Ndlovu: It has been a season of patching up where the team has not done well in previous seasons. The team had been trying, they would start well and then things go wrong along the way. So, my mandate was to bring the good old days to the Happy People. Surprisingly, things just got into shape in the first season.

The Monitor: What was the first thing you did towards recapturing the glory?

Madinda Ndlovu: There was a reason why Rollers was not winning championships and I had to dig dipper and find out why the team was not winning. It was going to be immature for me to think I had won back-to-back with Chiefs and the league was mine. The first thing I thought of was the quality of players, putting into place a formidable and knowledgeable technical team that would understand my philosophy. I also had to make sure we got good pre-season preparation.

 The Monitor: What was your target?

Madinda Ndlovu: Our target was to bring back the brand of football Rollers were known for as well as compete. We did not do well in the Kabelano and the first two games. We were from a vigorous pre-season programme and I suppose the players were still recovering from that.

The Monitor: Your former club, Chiefs remained struggling a little despite being defending champions. What do you think went wrong?

Madinda Ndlovu: Being back-to-back champions, Chiefs should have looked at that position from a critical perspective.

They had to ask themselves what brand of football won them the two titles. I recommended a few players but having left they should have brought in someone who knew the players and their strengths. Drago (Dragojlo Stanojlovic) was new and needed an influential figure to give him insight on the players and Chiefs’ style of players.

 The Monitor: You have previously made the statement “ It can only take a Madinda Ndlovu-coached Mochudi Centre Chiefs to beat Rollers”.

Madinda: I know some people would think it is controversial, but I say it is factual.

I take it from the results. If you look at my first game (in charge of Chiefs) I beat Rollers 5-2, they never beat me during my time with Chiefs. But I was first to beat Chiefs this season (with Rollers) when they thought they had the best squad in the country. I went on to knock them out of the Mascom Top 8 Cup. So that statement is a reality, it is fact. The records prove that.

 The Monitor: Ok.

Madinda Ndlovu: That statement carried a lot of meaning. Chiefs never thought success was not the work of a coach. In fact, some officials at the club think even a teacher can win the league with those players. So, beating them with Rollers, a team they never rated when I was with them, was really an emotional feat for me. My whole world came to a standstill because I had done the impossible according to Chiefs’ officials.

The Monitor: And now you are on the verge of winning the title.

Madinda Ndlovu: I feel a league title will cement my statement as one that can never be challenged. It is interesting because Chiefs are one of the challengers. I want the statement I made to carry more weight. We will not give in now when we can see the trophy right in front of us. It is going to be tough, but Chiefs are the ones under immense pressure to win the cup as defending champions.

 The Monitor: How prepared are your players to finish off strong?

Madinda Ndlovu: I am aware, having been in Botswana for quite some time, of all the gimmicks and dirty tactics. I am working on making my boys understand how important it is to be a champion.

The mind games, people thinking they are cleverer than others and intimidation.

I see fixtures are not being followed, we were to play in Molepolole over the weekend, then it was changed to Old Lobatse and New Lobatse eventually. I see no reason why this confusion has to come now with four games to go. But most importantly, we need to focus on ourselves.

 The Monitor: Ok.

Madinda Ndlovu: We have gone 25 games unbeaten and I believe that speaks volumes of my players’ character and what they can lose by not winning the league. I have belief they will fight until the end.

 The Monitor: There were reports of misunderstanding between you and your players.

Madinda Ndlovu: I do not want to dwell on those reports, but I maintain my camp remains intact. These are some of the things people will say to destabilise our camp. We had a few players that once we were doing well; we had to loan out so they could get game time elsewhere. Perhaps that could have come from some of those, but that is all rubbish.

 The Monitor: You have previously coached Rollers, what has changed?

Madinda Ndlovu: I have grown over the years, my self-belief has also grown. I commend Rollers for finding this sponsorship because it has brought in stability to the Popa family. The club has the best sponsorship. If Rollers can keep this sponsorship, a lot will be achieved.

 The Monitor: Any plans for the future?

Madinda Ndlovu: There is room to look at my department and see how to grow it. In the long run, I will create positions that will strengthen the team.

We need the input of knowledgeable former players, we need to come up with certain committees so they give us information, gather it for us and help us prepare for opponents.

 The Monitor: What happens if you win the third successive title?

Madinda Ndlovu: If I do win the third title, it will be important to push up and become technical director to give room to other coaches. Of course, this is something I will need to talk to the bosses about.

 The Monitor: Thank you Madinda.

Madinda Ndlovu: You are welcome.