Former Marumo Gallants coach Dylan Kerr has finally opened up on why he thinks the club was relegated.
Gallants stayed only for two seasons in the DStv Premiership after purchasing the status of Tshakuma Tsha Mandzivhandila. In their first season in 2021/22 they finished in 10th place and managed to reach the Nedbank Cup final.
The following season Bahlabane Ba Ntwaa had a lot on their plate, participating in the CAF Confederations Cup and competing in the league as well as as the Nedbank Cup.
Kerr came in to replace Dan Malesela in January, even though he was never officially unveiled as coach because he never received his work permit.
Despite all circumstances that they found themselves in they went all the way to the CAF Confederations Cup semi-final, but their run deep into the CAF inter-club competition hurt them in the league, and they found themselves relegated at the end of 2022/23.
The Malta-born mentor has his own theory why things went south at the club, saying he believes that, if it wasn’t for the players’ strike at the club, they would have survived relegation.
“Going on strike before the second [CAFCC semi-final] leg meant they lost focus and nothing mattered as long as the chairman signed a document giving them a bonus,” Kerr told iDiski Times.
“Once the mentality of playing goes for money, no matter what yuo do their minds are elsewhere. We would have won that second leg and won CAF had their greed not taken over their career and the club’s status.”
Immediately after they got relegated, many players went to join several DStv Premiership sides, which is something Kerr believes he should get credit for.
“Also how many players have I taken from the bottom to sign for the so called big clubs,” He continued
“Timm, Ndondlo, Nku, Mohomi, Toure, Chivaviro, Ngema, Arubi, Otladisa, Mabotja, Koapeng, Makhudubela. All these players signed with DStv Premiership teams.”
