Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town star Rivaldo Coetzee says he doesn’t watch local football besides games like Masandawana against Orlando Pirates due to the style of play.
In a viewed that has been echoed in the last few months by Manqoba Mnqgithi, Coetzee’s former coach at Sundowns – the lack of attack-minded or ‘total football’ as Coetzee viewed his preferred style as, has been questioned.
Coetzee, who is currently set to return to the game after 15 months out, by signing a short-term deal with Sekhukhune United, explained why he hasn’t tuned into match of the PSL since becoming a free agent.
“Of course, of course it does [hurt you to watch], because all you can do is picture yourself on the pitch at that moment, but the reason I don’t watch local football, I feel like, lately the football hasn’t been the way I want to play football,” he told Andile Ncube on SNAWA.
“I like total football, coaches like Pep [Guardiola], [Roberto] De Zebri, coach Rulani [Mokwena] – the football they want to play, is what I want to watch, so in most games you don’t see that and I don’t find an interest to watch it.
“Sundowns always play that way but look who they are playing against, most of the time – I want to see two teams going against each other, not an open game, but give the opponent something, not just sit back defend and counter.
“Okay, I understand football, we can’t all play like Sundowns, we must accept this, but I have a choice not to watch it, then I wouldn’t but like Pirates Sundowns, the best local game you can get at the moment.
“I will always watch that, they have a go at each other, but still a very tactical game – the coaches put in a lot going into such games. I’m very interested in the tactical aspects, not just with the ball but when you don’t have the ball too.”
The 29-year-old has been capped 25 times for the senior national team since making his debut back in 2014, with his last game coming in five years ago, in a 1-1 draw against Ghana.
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