Former SC Villa, Rwanda and Uganda Cranes coach Mulitin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic was unveiled as Orlando Pirates coach on Thursday August 3, 2017.
In his first presser, Micho who began his African journey with SC Villa told whoever cared to listen how he has grown to understand the game on the continent and added that he is different from the Micho of 16 years ago.
Below is the excerpt from the Presser:
“I have been for the last 16 years on the African continent. [It has been] 10-and-a-half years, 127 months since I have left South Africa,” said Micho in his opening remarks.
“In front of you is a different coach to the one [Kjell Jonevret] that has been here [at Pirates] for the last seven months.
“Behind and below my belt is four league trophies in three different countries in five years, two semi-finals in CAF Confederation Cup and Champions League.
“National team of Rwanda, national team of Uganda, with whom I have been two times at CHAN competition and qualified once to Africa Cup of Nations after 39 years.
“Something rare in Africa, in top three, is nine competitive away wins since 2013. That project has since been closed last Saturday with Uganda but, when that one closed, I got a call that was very hard to resist.
“The magnitude of this big club, charisma of the chairman, who I want to call my football father, Irvin Khoza, is irresistible not to accept, so I came here to face, in my 25 years of coaching and 16 years in Africa, one of the biggest challenges.
“I plan now to use all the experience I have picked up in the last 10-and-a-half years of football studies, in journeys across Africa, to ensure that my diploma is earned here.”
“I want to make a great contribution to the football in this country. I want to return the smiles to the faces of the supporters of this great club, and I will repeat what I have just asked the players,” he added.
“It is simply unacceptable that any of us enter or do any job in Orlando Pirates without having the face of a winner – this is the only language the supporters understand.
“I will, together with the technical team, management led by the chairman, and players, do everything possible in my capacity to turn the team’s fortunes around and return the club to where it belongs – amongst the best – with results and performance and everything that comes along with that.
“Now is not the time to talk too much. I have been absent, yes, but I have followed what has been happening with the club and watched several times matches on a Saturday.
“Some players I have coached, some I have seen from a distance, some I know, some are newcomers, so all these different groups I need to turn into one that has an iron defense, creative build-up and sharp attack.
“How to do that will not happen by talking to you [media], but we need to go out onto the field of play. The biggest motivation for me is talent and quality of players we have, and I see huge room for development and improvement.”
