Soweto Derby: Media Day | 21 Apr 2026

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Inside media day ahead of the Soweto Derby — press conference and interviews.

Summary

AI · transcript

This video captures a press conference with a football coach and player discussing an upcoming highly competitive match. They emphasize the team's strong mentality, strategic preparation, and focus on collective effort rather than individual brilliance or external pressures. The coach also reflects on his passion for developing young talent and the club's overall progress.

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[BLANK_AUDIO]
>> Great things to everyone, preparations are going well.
Preparing for a very big match, the biggest in the continent.
The beauty of this match is going to be highly competitive, based on the fact
that if you were to take the sample of the last seven matches, five wins for both teams.
29 goals scored by our team, 12 by the opponents.
They've considered only three goals we have considered for.
So from that sample, it already indicates how narrow the matches will be.
Highly competitive match, we are preparing to win, knowing who we are and
knowing the magnitude of the game and the importance of the points that we must get in the match.
Good afternoon everyone, we look at things from the player's perspective.
The preparations have been going very well, we've been back.
We've been putting in the work and we're looking forward to a very competitive game on Sunday.
I think it's a sold out affair, so it's going to be a spectacle.
It's going to be a game of consequence, so we know we have to deliver and
that's what we're going to do on Sunday.
>> Thank you for coming, we're now open at the end of the call, are there any questions?
>> Good afternoon gentlemen, I'll pass out the finance force to both gentlemen.
Let me start with the coach for our parrots, what is it on control of chaos from your side and why?
And is it about pebbles or maybe just about ensuring that the mentality in the group is right?
>> Control is important for us, if you play such matches you have to focus on the details.
Be incisive on our build attack, control the transitions.
And we have to be highly clinical in front of goals, that will be important.
We know where we have been not doing as well, we just focus on that.
Perfecting it on this match will give us the outcome.
So there's no history in such matches, there's no form in such matches, it's what you're doing that day.
And that's what we're preparing to do.
>> Yeah, I think for us as players, the mentality, it has to be spot on.
Because it's not your normal game, and as I've said, it's a game of consequence.
We know we have to deliver, and for us it's just to get the mentality in the right space and
be in the right space to play that game.
>> Next question?
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>> It's one of those games where we literally get to witness individual brilliance.
How do you then gather against players, having so much credit output on them,
the lives of police, the lives of game, being the players that everyone is talking about these days.
Any special treatment from yourselves is management to say, let's keep them here.
Let's guide them, let's help them to avoid such big situations.
>> The mentality in our team has been very good.
We don't focus on the size of matches, but we focus on three points.
We do the analysis based on strengths and weaknesses of opponents.
We motivate them to have the right mentality.
And I think the points have grown enough to be sidetracked by anything that are coming from outside.
So we're just preparing as a group, preparing as a team.
We know the match, we know the magnitude, we know the importance.
And that's all that we are preparing for.
And I trust the players that with the right team that we have currently,
we're going to perform and give our best on the day.
And if our best is good enough, we'll get their points.
>> We'll take the next three questions.
We need them, Javulu.
And it takes us on the third question, and you know, thank you.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>> I think one of the questions you just have to talk about this game and
I see that it's red that you have a so-called timing at this time.
This is in the interest that it's also in there too.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>> So how do you balance [INAUDIBLE]
>> Also the form that you know, I also [INAUDIBLE]
>> We deload the mental challenges for the players of
raising the magnitude of the match outside.
The only thing that becomes important for us is that we have a match against
the opponents, this is how they play, this is how we want to approach the match.
Give the confidence to the players, we have done it before you can do it again.
And I think in the past maybe eight or seven matches,
I think we haven't lost in the table, we are doing well as a team.
And it's not different, although we know these matches are not like normal matches.
But if we have the capacity of what we've been doing,
of doing what needs to be done based on how the opponents play, and
what we want to enforce and impose as our identity on the opponents.
It doesn't become a challenge to the players and hence the confidence from
all the players in the group that the approach matches the same way.
We dominate matches, if we give us the ball, we know how to use it.
And when we lose it, we know what to do.
That becomes the important part.
But any other thing that happens outside the field is not part of our DNA.
>> Joe, you've been happy to say it for me.
I've got a question for a gentleman still with the coach.
Coach, can you start with the lead with the kind of policy that the power science
gets, where a large part of the assignments, it's better than sort of hair potential
by some being sort of speaking, sort of eating, or as eating, or
fighting for the championship, and who put in a best layer of the U.S.
of those girls, and how do you guys speak to some part of the candidates on that?
>> Coach, will you come in, I'm just going to request the gentleman in the grey sweater
to please monitor your movement, and you're moving around to try not to get in the view
of the other cameras, please, thank you.
>> In all our team meetings, there's never been a highlight of how important it is to
win the league.
I think it's a bigger question to ask whether the policy that the club has the capacity
to win the league.
I don't think maybe I'm the relevant person to respond on that, but with the team that
we have, that has won almost against every team.
I don't think the police has got anything to do with the players that we have.
If they have the capacity to score 50 goals, with five games to go, and the only team of
parents that have ever scored, is the team that scored 52 goals.
So for me, the question I don't think it will be suitable currently.
If for us is to win the match, score goals, defend, we see poor with the clean sheets,
so many records broken, and I don't think the police has got anything to do with winning
or losing or winning the league.
>> I think for us, just as in life, we suffer setbacks, you know, I think you mentioned
as a throw, we played against C.O.L.A. and Richard's Bay, you know, but it's how you
move forward, how you pick yourselves up, that's important.
And I think the boys showed the character, you know, to say, after they came against
C.O.L.A., we went against CS Galaxy, we were able to win that game, keep our clean sheets,
you know.
We also suffered a setback against Richard's Bay recently, but we also picked ourselves
up again, you know.
So that's the kind of mentality and the attitude that the boys are showing, you know, throughout
the season, and I think with this kind of mentality, surely something has to give.
>> Your question is for the skipper.
Captain, it's been a while, the police in the league, since you guys have come out of
the wrong side of your talk, your results, when you win so many of those doggies in recent
season, does that do anything at all for the case in terms of an extra confidence and a
little bit of a hardening of the nerves on the day, or is it a classic case of what you
do wake up and go up and take you to the changing of the environment, the nerves off the occasion
always take over and have a lack of their own?
>> Yeah, look, I think, you know, this sort of game is something special, you know, regardless
of previous results, it doesn't matter, it doesn't count for anything.
What matters is what you do on the day, you know, because no one knows.
No one will ever remember if we be achieved, you know, for, I think, consecutive times
now.
But, you know, coming to the game on Sunday, if we don't win that game, people will remember
that game to say, you guys didn't deliver, so for us, it's just important to go out there,
you know, to our best, and I'm sure on the day, if we do our best, it will be good enough.
>> Okay, we'll take the next three questions.
One question for you, how do you, what's the messaging for management when you speak
up at the title race, because yes, you guys do have the advantage now, but of course you
have to wait until your rivals play to really understand where you are in terms of the title
race and as we enter the business end of the season, how do you, what's the message you
that you're telling the players, and then to be tested, even though, the seep of the
game is a florid sport between the sheets, it is a whole collective, and you know, it's
very responsible for those green sheets.
What has been behind that, keeping between sheets and the defense of solidacy?
>> What works for our team is there to are a process driven club, strategic plan, and
training.
So where we are is not by coincidence, it's a plan that is ongoing.
So when it happens now, it's not because everybody gets shocked.
That's the messaging from our team that are you in line with what was planned from the
beginning of the season, if we fall short, then we work on the strategy, how do you get
back onto the same path?
So for me, it helps, because you just measure whether you are on the same sport where you
are requested or asked to be, and I think we are still on the right track to the whole
plan of the whole strategic plan that was done five years ago, if I'm not mistaken.
>> I think, you know, coming to the terms of the clean sheets, I think credits must be
given to SIPO, you know, he's been there throughout the season, he's been doing well,
but not for getting the collective, because it's a collective effort, you know.
I always say defending doesn't only starts with defenders, you know, it starts with our
strikers there, they've been doing a massive job for us, our number 10s, our midfielders
they've been helping us.
And you know, as I've said, it's been a collective effort from everyone, you know, the coaches
included, and I think, yeah, it's just a collective effort.
>> Coach, [INAUDIBLE]
Coach, both you and the middle center are chasing the title and you are both ready to play against
the coach, right, and he's sitting there, he's a chief, do you think these two teams
have a say in who is the lead at the end of the day?
>> One danger that we avoid is to measure teams before you play them.
The size of the team, the name of the team has got no consequence on how you will perform
on the day.
It's the analysis.
If you look at the matches that we did not do well, where we play throws, you would not
predict before you play them.
So for me, it's just to analyze the opponents.
When before we play them, we'll analyze what they pose, the threat that they can pose on
to our team, how can we manipulate and try and impose ourselves?
We avoid looking at the name, but we just look at the opponents based on what they do
on the field of play.
So whether it's still in post, whether it's opiate to the end, it doesn't matter, we just
have to approach them the same way with the same mentality of trying to get their points.
>> I don't want to go back to what you made, but I can see what you were meaning.
I work for pirates, and the only goal that I have is to see pirates succeeding.
And one thing that will make all of us proud is to see pirates winning.
So the only thing that exists in my head and when it's still mathematically correct and
possible to win the league, I just see that happening.
I don't see anything else.
What do the opponents are doing?
It's less of our business.
>> Next, three questions?
Do you have questions?
Noted, noted, and noted, noted, noted, noted.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>> They stand at injuries that we still have, Cog is still doing rehab.
Cihan Dole is also doing his rehab, thinking quickly around the team.
I haven't seen anybody.
I also in the doctor's bed.
So I think we will have very keen people of health, except to the two main injuries that
we, we, that are known.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>> Go ahead to some concern to you, and it's a simple story forward.
How do you then handle someone who approaches you with a revenge in mind?
Because where in the street is that it's a revenge match match from the other side of the match?
>> Sometimes it works better.
If a person is coming with revenge, it works better in a football match.
For us, it's just to respond.
We, we, the beauty about this team this season, we can play against a low block.
We're comfortable, we can play against a team that is trying to dominate with the ball.
You, you know the outcomes of those teams that wants to go toe to toe with us.
So for me, we'll play whatever is in front of us based on what they do.
We'll try and respond.
Fortunately, we've got a very good and major team.
You don't have to shout very loud on what the opponents are posing.
And in our preparation, we prepare for all scenarios.
So whatever the opponents are posing, I am confident that the capacity within
the team will overcome the opponents.
>> Coach, I mean, you've been here for quite a while.
I'm through the XC and I'm also, you know, in this type of situation.
What excites you?
What excites will you wake up on a Sunday morning, you know, to, to, to the start?
And what excites you?
As someone powers us in coach?
>> There's one guy who said in the club that I, I chose to be wet.
I'm not working.
There's a difference.
So I'm here as a seven.
I, I, I enjoy the fact that I serve the club 10 past six every day,
a year for five years without fail and never be late.
It excites me to see young players doing what they are doing,
that way developing in front of my eyes.
As taking chances with players that have never played,
a developer that played 80 this match the previous week,
and he played it up the following week.
For me, seeing that transformation, it excites me.
It excites me to see so many players from our team coming into this club
where we had to know player in the national team.
For to see a galaxy of, of players in all national teams being all under paris,
that excites me.
Like any other coach winning the trophies since I arrived here,
I think I've played a final in every year since I've been here.
It excites me.
Seeing the team doing well, and it's not about me as an individual.
But it's seeing the project that was placed in front of us,
doing well and graduating towards it is paris taking its rightful position.
For me, that's the excitement.
We'll take the final three questions.
I think there's a hand raised there, noted.
Jarmulah and Mr. Numbar, who gave you a last round.
OK.
[INAUDIBLE]
The mood in camp, I think, has been a joyful one throughout the season.
Don't think anything has changed.
We've had hiccups here and there, but the mood is still the same.
The boys are still prepared to go out there and give their all.
And I think that's what matters the most.
So yeah, the mood is still the same.
Our preparation doesn't change.
I don't think there's a match that we prepared for differently.
It's just a preview of the opponents.
Preparation, post-match, what did we do, right?
What did we do incorrectly in the previous match?
That's how we prepare.
There's no team that we highlight or do differently.
But you do, based on how they prepare, do things differently.
But the preparation schedule is almost the same equal time
and equal exposure.
And that has worked for our team up to this one.
[INAUDIBLE]
Yeah.
[INAUDIBLE]
Coach, you've been finishing as far as I'm coming.
[INAUDIBLE]
Well, what do you have to do as a team to make sure that
while I'm in you get this opportunity?
Like I indicated earlier, no one, one should be number two.
But based on the plan that the club has, remember the gap
that was before?
And remember the gap that is now.
And in all other metrics, if we don't look at only winning
the league, but we look at all other developments
that are happening within the club,
that are indicative that you are progressing
to the right place.
For me, I wouldn't answer that question
because we're not number two now.
We're number one.
Maybe we should ask the opponents.
But for now, we would like to finish on top.
And we'll continue fighting to finish on top.
But based on the plan that the club
places in front of every part, if you ask me,
there's been a lot of improvement and advancement
within the club in terms of signing players,
in terms of everything else that I mentioned before.
So for me, I don't see a number two.
I still see parisits on top.
[INAUDIBLE]
Good one after the first time, we spoke about how the event
was then in terms of the game.
How did you achieve that current state of mind
for such an aim, especially with the number of players,
filling the coaching zone, where you've never
been part of the coaching zone.
And what role have you played in that in terms of getting
the new faces of the monetizing team, like this game?
The role of the technical team is very important in the team.
The players outsource their energy or strength
from how you approach the match.
If you show fear, players will be fearful.
What to bring, what to like is his personality, with lots
of respect, but it doesn't show fear.
If he's fearful, I've never seen him, or I've never felt.
So the players outsource their energy
and the confidence on how we approach matches,
on how we address them before matches.
If we do things the way we're doing them,
I don't see them having a chance of being
fearful of any opponents.
We just do mistakes because they are human beings.
And you can see how our team plays in every match.
That is a team that has got no fear,
even though they play as some players are young.
And that's what I've got that within the team.
The technical team, every supporting structure within the club
just shows no fear, which has approach matches as they come.
OK, they can officially reach the 19 minutes.
They just may need to fire a storm and talk to their standings.
Believe it, you will officially be in the office of option of time.
Make it good.
[INAUDIBLE]
Thank you, Miss Ella.
[LAUGHTER]
Yeah, Coach, I check as we judge them by their numbers.
And when the numbers are improving,
and so is the contribution, they have to be out of relation.
What we say has been behind the transformation of the level
that we've given, that are contribution
of the 19 goals, this is in the 21 matches,
and we see his impact.
Also, if an international team--
what can you say about it?
We can also contribute to some of those
who have been in the national team.
Also, we did have a very great first round,
but we've seen it coming extremely in the center.
I think it's a number of factors.
One, the number of hours that I invested in the extra work,
the number of preparation that you
go through, not only in the field.
They change, the positional changes.
If you see a rally, when he started,
he was only playing on the left.
Now, he can play throughout any positions out of the three
tens.
I also think the final details of how we approach matches,
this is not how we use approach other matches,
how quickly we get into the opponent's half,
how do we free him?
So it's all those details and a lot of preparation,
but also his own personal preparation.
The boy is so mature for a youngster.
You wouldn't think it's somebody's age.
If it wasn't for any other thing,
you can even give him the responsibility of a captain,
although this one is doing so well.
So he's in that mode, that it's a number of factors,
but it's a lot of hard work that goes through it
in the field of play and outside the field of play.
[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]