MOROKA Swallows will look to introduce younger blood to their ageing team, but right now they're enjoying the fruits of their veterans' success, says coach Zeca Marques.
Swallows' experienced squad have been a revelation, finishing runners-up in the league last season then winning a first trophy since 2009 with their stirring 2-1 MTN8 final victory against SuperSport United at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
Veterans such as Siyabonga Nomvethe, Lefa Tsutsulupa and David Mathebula, and rejuvenated younger players such as Lerato Chabangu and Bennett Chenene, have shown a new lease of life that has caught the eye and led to success.
However, if the revival is to continue, then at some stage Swallows will have to start introducing young blood.
Marques said the club was aware of this, but was also in no hurry to change a winning formula.
"There is a future, there is a vision, but you can't change a winning formula and you can't buy experience. This is what we've got today," the Swallows coach said.
"Youth is great, but there's a right moment to bring them on, and there are times to bring them on. In this final we proved you can win things with experience.
"But there is a vision in the club - the older players won't last forever and we know that. So we'll build the younger players up slowly, let them have moments when they deserve them. There's time, there's a game plan for them, and I've told them they're here to grow with the club.
"But at the moment we've got to play for the club's interests with the players who are experienced to manage these situations."
It was always going to be difficult for Marques to step out of the shadow of predecessor Gordon Igesund, whom he assisted.
Igesund took the job of Bafana Bafana coach in the off- season after last campaign's second-placed finish for the Birds.
That achievement was all the more remarkable given that Swallows fought relegation in 2010-11.
But Marques has done just that - in a short space of time, in some style too, and with a trophy.
Swallows have played dashing attacking football reminiscent of generations gone by when the Birds were still a force in SA football. So much so that there's hope for some sort of revival of the fallen giants.
"I'm on a learning curve as a head coach but I'm not on a learning curve as a coach - I've been involved for many years," Marques said.
"The only difference is decision-making. Now I've got to make the decisions. I've learnt from the mistakes of the previous coaches, and I've also learnt from whatever they've had to offer."
Birds in no hurry to add young blood
MOROKA Swallows will look to introduce younger blood to their ageing team, but right now they're enjoying the fruits of their veterans' success, says coach Zeca Marques.
Swallows' experienced squad have been a revelation, finishing runners-up in the league last season then winning a first trophy since 2009 with their stirring 2-1 MTN8 final victory against SuperSport United at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
Veterans such as Siyabonga Nomvethe, Lefa Tsutsulupa and David Mathebula, and rejuvenated younger players such as Lerato Chabangu and Bennett Chenene, have shown a new lease of life that has caught the eye and led to success.
However, if the revival is to continue, then at some stage Swallows will have to start introducing young blood.
Marques said the club was aware of this, but was also in no hurry to change a winning formula.
"There is a future, there is a vision, but you can't change a winning formula and you can't buy experience. This is what we've got today," the Swallows coach said.
"Youth is great, but there's a right moment to bring them on, and there are times to bring them on. In this final we proved you can win things with experience.
"But there is a vision in the club - the older players won't last forever and we know that. So we'll build the younger players up slowly, let them have moments when they deserve them. There's time, there's a game plan for them, and I've told them they're here to grow with the club.
"But at the moment we've got to play for the club's interests with the players who are experienced to manage these situations."
It was always going to be difficult for Marques to step out of the shadow of predecessor Gordon Igesund, whom he assisted.
Igesund took the job of Bafana Bafana coach in the off- season after last campaign's second-placed finish for the Birds.
That achievement was all the more remarkable given that Swallows fought relegation in 2010-11.
But Marques has done just that - in a short space of time, in some style too, and with a trophy.
Swallows have played dashing attacking football reminiscent of generations gone by when the Birds were still a force in SA football. So much so that there's hope for some sort of revival of the fallen giants.
"I'm on a learning curve as a head coach but I'm not on a learning curve as a coach - I've been involved for many years," Marques said.
"The only difference is decision-making. Now I've got to make the decisions. I've learnt from the mistakes of the previous coaches, and I've also learnt from whatever they've had to offer."
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