It was probably best to let it blow over, but SuperSport United coach Gordon Igesund insisted yesterday that he did not have a mandate to win the championship - contradicting his own club chairman, Khulu Sibiya.
The Matsatsantsa boss suggested last week that the coach would be given the boot if he failed to win the Absa Premier League, adding that he'd given Igesund all the tools to deliver the title.
"The thing is, when I coach a team I don't need to be told what is expected of me," said Igesund, whose side faces promoted Jomo Cosmos tomorrow at the Lucas Moripe Stadium (7.30pm).
"We are all very excited at the moment and we know what the expectations are and we all want to try [and challenge]. I've said before that there are five or six teams who all want to win the championship. We are no different, but I certainly don't have a mandate where I have been told if I don't win this, then this is going to happen. I think it all was just taken out of context and needed to be cleared up."
The four-time championship winner said he had his own targets as a coach: "I can tell you right now that my expectations are to try and win the championship, but we all know that it is not just going to happen because we bought players.
"We have done no different to other clubs in this league who have brought in players."
Igesund is satisfied with SuperSport's start, winning their league opener against Pirates and coming from behind to share the spoils with Mpumalanga Black Aces at the weekend. He said he faces a tough task to unlock Jomo Sono's defensive-minded Cosmos in their third league match.
"It's always difficult to play a side that has just been promoted and defends well, as we've seen with their two games. Jomo is very shrewd, giving you a false sense of security and then hitting you on the counter," said Igesund.
Igesund rubbishes talk of ultimatum
It was probably best to let it blow over, but SuperSport United coach Gordon Igesund insisted yesterday that he did not have a mandate to win the championship - contradicting his own club chairman, Khulu Sibiya.
The Matsatsantsa boss suggested last week that the coach would be given the boot if he failed to win the Absa Premier League, adding that he'd given Igesund all the tools to deliver the title.
"The thing is, when I coach a team I don't need to be told what is expected of me," said Igesund, whose side faces promoted Jomo Cosmos tomorrow at the Lucas Moripe Stadium (7.30pm).
"We are all very excited at the moment and we know what the expectations are and we all want to try [and challenge]. I've said before that there are five or six teams who all want to win the championship. We are no different, but I certainly don't have a mandate where I have been told if I don't win this, then this is going to happen. I think it all was just taken out of context and needed to be cleared up."
The four-time championship winner said he had his own targets as a coach: "I can tell you right now that my expectations are to try and win the championship, but we all know that it is not just going to happen because we bought players.
"We have done no different to other clubs in this league who have brought in players."
Igesund is satisfied with SuperSport's start, winning their league opener against Pirates and coming from behind to share the spoils with Mpumalanga Black Aces at the weekend. He said he faces a tough task to unlock Jomo Sono's defensive-minded Cosmos in their third league match.
"It's always difficult to play a side that has just been promoted and defends well, as we've seen with their two games. Jomo is very shrewd, giving you a false sense of security and then hitting you on the counter," said Igesund.
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