New Baroka coach Joel Masutha.
By: Refilwe Sebola
New Baroka head coach Joel Masutha has shared his thoughts on achieving back-to-back victories against his former clubs, Venda FC and Black Leopards, in the National First Division (NFD) league.
He has also secured a spot in the last 32 of the Nedbank Cup competition. The experienced mentor, who recently joined Baroka on a probationary basis, led the team to a 4-2 victory over Venda FC, followed by another 4-2 win against Black Leopards over the past two weekends.
Masutha made a name for himself during his time at Black Leopards, successfully promoting the team to the Premier Soccer League (PSL). He later joined Venda FC but left mid-season due to internal club issues. After joining Baroka about a month ago, Masutha took charge of a team that had been struggling with inconsistency under the previous leadership of Amukelani Hlongwani. So far, he has coached in five official league games and the Nedbank Cup, winning three, drawing one, and qualifying for the Nedbank Cup.
He expressed that it felt strange to beat both of his former teams. “I am happy we got maximum points against both, even though it’s a strange feeling to compete against your former teams,” he stated.
Masutha attributed the team’s success to the collective effort, commitment, and support from the technical team and club management. He also noted that qualifying for the Nedbank Cup presents an opportunity for Baroka to enhance their brand. The team will continue its league campaign with a match against JDR Stars on January 11, 2024.