Joel Masutha has drawn his first game as the head coach of Baroka FC.
By: Refilwe Sebola
In his inaugural match as head coach of Baroka FC, Joel Masutha delivered an impressive performance by securing a 1-1 draw against Cape Town Spurs during the previous weekend.
Masutha possesses a distinguished history that includes successfully leading Black Leopards to the Premier Soccer League, and there is optimistic anticipation regarding his potential to elevate Baroka FC’s standings.
Club president Khurishi Mphahlele announced Masutha’s appointment earlier this month on a probationary basis, with a performance review scheduled for February. The renewal of his contract will be contingent upon the achievement of satisfactory results.
Presently, the team occupies the 12th position in the league standings, having accumulated 13 points from 11 matches, which includes three wins, four draws, and four losses. The initial three victories were obtained under the interim leadership of Amukelani “JayJay” Hlongwani, who was appointed following the termination of former coach Morgan Mamila due to two consecutive losses.
Despite Hlongwani’s relative inexperience, he has established a foundational platform for Masutha’s tenure.
Looking ahead, Masutha’s forthcoming fixtures include a pivotal match against Highbury at Gelvandale Stadium, as well as two significant derbies at home against Venda FC and Black Leopards.
The schedule also comprises away matches against JDR Stars and Hungry Lions in January. In February, Masutha will conclude his probation with three second-round matches against Venda FC, the University of Pretoria, and Durban City. In their initial encounters, Baroka FC recorded a draw with AmaTuks and suffered a narrow loss to Durban City.