Diadora FC coach Zain Abrahams has opened up on his plan to rope in Valhalla United’s successful young coach Sherwin ‘Fonna’ Sauls.
Sauls assisted in the background to guide Valhalla to their maiden title at the Northerns LFA two seasons ago.
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Abrahams has subsequently made a bigger name for himself with his new Diadora FC club, where he won the Hollywoodbets Third Division title, as well as promotion to the ABC Motsepe League – all in their debut season in Safa Cape Town’s amateur structures.
Abrahams explained to No Bones with Jones. “I saw something in him that my mentors and guys I worked with, like Roger Links, Ayoob Gester, Duran Francis and Kamaal Sait, saw in me. These are the guys I can call anytime when it comes to advice. And that is the guys I look up to, even Arreshaat Daniels, and not forgetting coach Patrick (Weels) from Matroosfontein – these are guys I learn from. I’m never scared to ask them when I feel I need some advice.
“So, I had a conversation with him (Sauls) and asked him if he is still serious about football, as he was playing and coaching at the same time. He confessed that he was keen on coaching and I told him that one of the hardest things to do is accepting that you are done with soccer on a higher level. It is essential to admit when your time is up, but you find a lot of players still struggling with that.
“He told me, ‘Wow,’ coach, the bug bit me and I enjoyed it and wanted to take it further. Him and Coach Block were the inside men at Valhalla. I know he is learning a lot and looks up to me. He has the right mentality, like I do. We will stay students of the game and continuously learn and grow.
“When I asked him to come on board, he didn’t hesitate and he will shadow me and coach Balla. I always had it in my mind to bring him on board. He has all the attributes to become a great coach.
“He is still young and along with coach Balla and myself, we are probably the youngest coaching team in this league. Hopefully, we can go from strength to strength. He is always grateful and willing to learn,” Abrahams concluded.
Diadora hosts Ubuntu FC at their new Greens Sports Complex home ground in Manenberg for a Nedbank Cup Round of 16 clash on Sunday.
