�Exemplary� Koko handed coaching role
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Wednesday November 4, 2015 15:59
Koko, now 34, has been the club captain but was this week given a new role as player-assistant coach.
Harrison purred about Koko’s influence in the team and his decision to elevate the diminutive former Zebras winger.
Harrison said about Koko: “He has been at the club for a long time. He is 34 now and I do not know how long he will play. We thought there was need to make this transition. It is a process and its good for the club,” said Harrison, who took over at the beginning of the season.
He said the new development would not cloud his judgement regarding selecting Koko into the team.
“I feel he will do the job, then he will be part of the team,” Harrison added. “This (development) will not change the way I look at him. I have been impressed with his leadership qualities and in the time I have been here, I enjoyed working with him.”
The Englishman said he made the decision to swiftly move Koko to a coaching role as he did not want to lose him.
“I didn’t want to lose him as I have worked well with him,” he said. “I felt he would do well in coaching.”
In other changes, midfielder, Maano Ditshupo was appointed new captain to fill the void left by Koko while Joel Mogorosi is Ditshupo’s deputy.
“Coaching, I feel, is a big word for me as of now. I would use a different word like mentoring or assisting. But more than all that, it is actually about passing on the experience to the next generation about what you have learnt and guiding them, and along with it, also carrying on with my current level of field performance.
So, I have two roles to play now, two responsibilities. I really thank the supporters and also thank Township Rollers management for their hospitality and the immense faith they have shown in me,” Koko told the club’s website.
Ditshupo has captained Rollers on many occasions this season with Koko spending more time on the bench. Meanwhile, Rollers’ next Premier League match against Police XI has been moved to Saturday at the Molepolole Sports Complex. The game was initially scheduled to be played at the SSKB Stadium on Sunday.
The move followed a request by national team coach, Peter Butler to have all his players in camp by Sunday as preparations for the match against Mali kick off. The two clash in the second round of the 2018 World Cup qualifier in Francistown on November 14. Rollers have six players: Mogorosi, Kabelo Dambe, Galagwe Moyana, Segolame Boy, Obonye Moswate and Kaone van der Westhuizen called up to the national team.