John Tlale turns to coaching

John Tlale, the former Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates league-winning goalkeeper, has come full circle, landing up in Bloemfontein some 25 years after debuting for Celtic way back in 1986.

Tlale, who was a PSL title winner an incredible four seasons in a row, three of them with the all-conquering Sundowns team of the late '90s early 2000s, is now hoping to transfer that success to the coaching field.

The 44-year-old former Bafana international is joint head coach of Roses United with former Celtic teammate Benjamin Reed, and while the team lost out in the recent national playoffs to gain First Division status, he is seriously upbeat.

In a media first, he announced that the club's owner, Max Thsabalala, is buying the First Division status of United FC and the franchise will be relocated to Bloemfontein.

"There was a lot of pressure at the recent playoffs. We desperately needed promotion after coming so close for the last few years, so we decided to buy First Division status," he said.

"As a coach, the pressure is so much more intense than as a player, but football is my life ... I grew up in it and I can't see myself doing anything else."

And what a football life he has led, overcoming an early setback at Bloemfontein Celtic, which almost crushed his dreams at the onset, and a serious shoulder injury that saw the then 20-year-old staying out of football for 30 months.

"I started playing professional soccer for Celtic in 1986, alongside Benjamin Reed, Ernest Chirwali, Eden Katango, Ishmael 'Litre Mokitlane', '10%' Serate and David Modise, but it was a bit difficult for me to make the starting side as they were one of the best sides in the country then.

"Coach Dave Roberts almost always used foreigners rather than local players, so it was frustrating playing behind Isaac Matsinya and Ronnie Malefetsi from Lesotho."

After only three appearances for Celtic he picked up a shoulder injury that saw him move home to Virginia, where he spent two-and-a-half years watching from the sidelines.

But then Free State Stars brought him back and he spent seven years with them, honing his craft. He won only one major trophy there, lifting the Coca-Cola Cup in 1994, defeating Hellenic 3-2 in the final.

It was at Stars that he was noticed for higher honours and he was part of the 1996 Afcon squad as third-choice keeper behind Andre Arendse and Roger de Sa.

"In 1997, I joined Sundowns under coach Mike Ntombela and we won the league three times in a row - 1997-2000. We also won the Bobsave, Coca-Cola and the Rothmans Cup."

In between winning the league, he represented South Africa 11 times, keeping six clean sheets in a row before conceding against Tanzania.

"After Sundowns, I joined Orlando Pirates, winning the league, and this meant I won it four times in a row. I don't know if that is a record but I am proud of that."

He then moved to Manning Rangers for a short spell before hanging up his gloves. He took a coaching course and worked at Benoni Premier United as goalkeeper coach before heading to Cape Town. There he took over the reins at Western Province United, who promptly won the Vodacom League.

"I was then offered a chance to come back to Bloemfontein, and I am looking forward to making the move permanent."

With such a glorious past, few would bet on the affable Tlale not making another appearance in the PSL, even in another guise.