Nemtajela’s Ex Coach: He Wasn’t The Best Of The Group

Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images

A former coach of Orlando Pirates midfielder Masindi Nemtajela, Dylan Kerr, has detailed what he thought about his ability when he saw him at Marumo Gallants and revealed the motivation behind the 24-year-old’s quick trajectory.

Nemtajela only broke into professional football two years ago with Gallants in the 2023/24 season in the Motsepe Foundation Championship and even then, he did not feature in the entire campaign.

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However, as Kerr reveals the skillful midfielder’s come-up story, Siwelele Sa Marumo believed that he had something to offer after deciding to keep him on their way to Betway Premiership, after they bought the status of Moroka Swallows ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

“I remember I was there for pre-season and he was one of the Chairman’s project. When they played in the first division, there were three or four youngsters, that the Chairman (Abram Sello) wanted to stay with the club rather go to Leruma United (who inherited Gallants’ NFD status) and he was one of them,” Kerr revealed, speaking exclusively to Soccer Laduma.

“To be fair, he wasn’t the best of the group. There were two others that were better than him at that time. A team like Marumo at the time after buying the status of Swallows, to get back into the PSL, they kept the players the Chairman thought they could develop (further). Obviously he’s been performing well, he did well to get his move to Pirates.

“Some players have got natural ability, some players have got that motivation to become better. Many players are driven by success, the thought of being at a bigger and better club. So obviously the kids in South Africa, even foreign players, they all want to play for the big teams, Pirates, Chiefs, Sundowns,” Kerr revealed.

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The former Leeds United defender also credited Nemtajela for his work rate and passion for the game after his quick rise, which has seen him also called-up to the Bafana Bafana squad.

“Some players do it and adapt quickly, their motivation is not money, fame, it’s because they love the game. This kid (Nemtajela) used to come to training, work with the senior players, he has grown from strength to strength, it’s good to see,” the former Moroka Swallows coach added.

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