COACHING at Mamelodi Sundowns is much better under Pitso Mosimane than his predecessor Johan Neeskens, says the footballer the fabled Dutch coach brought in to strengthen the squad two years ago.
Alje Schut has told a Dutch football magazine that Sundowns are much more professional now than before the arrival of Mosimane just over a year ago.
The 32-year-old defender, who has signed a contract extension that will keep him at the Tshwane-based club for another three years, said Neeskens was not patient enough and did not build a resilient team spirit.
"The current coach is much stricter, he puts the players through their paces every day. Pitso Mosimane reminds me a little of Louis van Gaal [the Dutch national coach]," he told the weekly magazine Voetbal International.
"Mosimane has that arrogance, that self-confidence and he doesn't suffer fools. He understands the mentality of the players and how to do things with the squad.
"Thanks to him the professionalism has improved a lot. There are individual programmes for each player to follow and we spend lots of time doing video analysis. It is much more professional than one year before."
Schut, who spent 13 seasons at FC Utrecht, has told his countrymen of his delight at playing in SA and the culture shock he suffered when he first arrived: "In 2012, I decided I needed an adventure and came to South Africa. The stadiums might not always be full but the football is something to be experienced. I really enjoy it.
"I'll never forget my first match, the players signing on the bus on the way to the stadium and dancing in the change room before the game. I thought that was fantastic. Everyone has such a positive attitude. And despite all the negative publicity about crime in Johannesburg, I really enjoy living here."
In the interview he praises the standard of the Premier Soccer League. "Technically and physically, it is very high. It is only tactically that the local players have missed out on in development," he said.
l Sundowns were crowned the winners of the Absa Premiership Quarter 1 yesterday.
Pitso a better coach than Neeskens: Alje
COACHING at Mamelodi Sundowns is much better under Pitso Mosimane than his predecessor Johan Neeskens, says the footballer the fabled Dutch coach brought in to strengthen the squad two years ago.
Alje Schut has told a Dutch football magazine that Sundowns are much more professional now than before the arrival of Mosimane just over a year ago.
The 32-year-old defender, who has signed a contract extension that will keep him at the Tshwane-based club for another three years, said Neeskens was not patient enough and did not build a resilient team spirit.
"The current coach is much stricter, he puts the players through their paces every day. Pitso Mosimane reminds me a little of Louis van Gaal [the Dutch national coach]," he told the weekly magazine Voetbal International.
"Mosimane has that arrogance, that self-confidence and he doesn't suffer fools. He understands the mentality of the players and how to do things with the squad.
"Thanks to him the professionalism has improved a lot. There are individual programmes for each player to follow and we spend lots of time doing video analysis. It is much more professional than one year before."
Schut, who spent 13 seasons at FC Utrecht, has told his countrymen of his delight at playing in SA and the culture shock he suffered when he first arrived: "In 2012, I decided I needed an adventure and came to South Africa. The stadiums might not always be full but the football is something to be experienced. I really enjoy it.
"I'll never forget my first match, the players signing on the bus on the way to the stadium and dancing in the change room before the game. I thought that was fantastic. Everyone has such a positive attitude. And despite all the negative publicity about crime in Johannesburg, I really enjoy living here."
In the interview he praises the standard of the Premier Soccer League. "Technically and physically, it is very high. It is only tactically that the local players have missed out on in development," he said.
l Sundowns were crowned the winners of the Absa Premiership Quarter 1 yesterday.
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