New Polokwane City coach Luc Eymael finally gets his wish

In his first interview since arriving in South Africa‚ new Polokwane City coach Luc Eymael exclusively tells Times Media Digital what he will bring to club‚ how he almost signed for two PSL teams in the past and what he thinks of South African football.

Q: You have coached and won titles at some top teams in the DR Congo and Gabon‚ among others. What drew you to Polokwane City?

A: I have wanted to coach for a long time in the South African PSL and have come close a few times before. In 2012 Floyd Mbele wanted me to coach at Platinum Stars‚ but he then left for Orlando Pirates.

I then signed a pre-contract with a big team in South Africa‚ I will not say the name [reported at the time to be Pirates] but things did not work out for reasons I will not go into.

But it is a league that I think is the most professional league in Africa‚ with the money‚ infrastructure. I would watch the PSL in other countries where I worked on the TV [SuperSport] and since I came to Africa in 2010‚ it is a league I have wanted to work in.

(When) the opportunity to come to Polokwane City arose it was something I wanted‚ even though I was working at a big club in Sudan [Al-Merreikh].

Q: What do you think you bring to Polokwane City and the PSL?

A: I have the experience of working with some top players in Europe and helping to develop them.

I am a teacher but also a coach at the national academy in Belgium when I am not working in Africa and have worked with players like Eden Hazard‚ Christian Benteke and Axel Witsel.

I am passionate about football and I believe that with the infrastructure in South Africa‚ this country can achieve great things.

Q: What is your coaching philosophy?

A: I don’t like long balls. In fact‚ if you see the way the Belgium national team plays‚ that is the kind of football I like.

A mixture of tiki-taka and direct play that hopefully the supporters will enjoy‚ but is also successful. I demand good organisation and I like my teams to pressure [opponents]. This is how I have won league titles in the past.

Q: You have come from a club where the league title is almost expected‚ what is your mandate at Polokwane City?

A: My mandate is not to win the league this season‚ I can tell you that. But if we can win a place in the top eight then we can say we have been successful and that gives you something to build on.

I will try my best to get us as high up the table as possible. I don’t like to lose.

Q: You have only had two training sessions‚ but what are your impressions of the City squad?

A: It is hard to say because we will spend this whole week assessing the players before I can have a proper opinion.

But I have seen some good players and good skills‚ and I have seen some weaknesses that we need to fix. That is all I can say for now.

Q: You say you have been following South African football for some time‚ what is your impression of the standard in the country?

A: I think with everything you have in terms of organisation‚ money‚ infrastructure‚ it is a surprise you have not achieved more.

But also‚ Orlando Pirates have made the final of the Champions League and Confederation Cup in recent years.

Mamelodi Sundowns are going well in their group in the Champions League … so there has been some success.

But for me South Africa should always have three clubs ranked in the top 10 of African football. If I have a look at what you have here compared to teams in‚ say‚ Ivory Coast‚ there is no comparison at all.