Former Flames assistant coach and captain Patrick ‘General’ Mabedi says he would definitely be interested in taking up the position of head coach at South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) giants Kaizer Chiefs should he be offered the job.
Mabedi, who was the club’s assistant coach, took charge of the last three games of the season following the resignation of Stevie Komphela after the club’s Nedbank Cup semi-final loss to Free State Stars.
In those three games, Mabedi guided the club to two wins and a loss, going down to Golden Arrows but recording victories over Maritzburg United and Ajax Cape Town to secure third place, and a return to continental football for the Glamour Boys.
“I was the assistant coach, and I have been the interim coach for the last few games,” Mabedi told www.kickoff.com upon reflecting on his short stint at the helm.
“My objective was to finish the task I was assigned to do. My objective was to finish well in the last two games and I think I did that.”
When asked about his future and whether he would be keen to take the Chiefs hot seat, the former Amakhosi defender was honest in his reply.
“Of course I would be interested,” he said. “When you are there, you cannot say no if you are given something.”
Meanwhile, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu has said now that the season in South Africa is over, Mabedi is free to join the Flames for the Cosafa Cup which runs from May 26 to June 9 in the rainbow nation’s Polokwane Province.
Mabedi was initially included in coach Ronny van Geneugden’s (RVG) backroom staff as one of the assistant coaches, but he turned down the offer following a meeting he had with Chiefs.
However, RVG claimed that Mabedi then indicated that he would only be available for the Cosafa Cup because it would be off season in South Africa.
Said Nyamilandu: “He is most welcome to join the camp if he is free. Nothing has changed and the door is open for him.”
Mabedi could not be reached for his comment yesterday. n
