Mqondisi Dube
28 August 2008
Selebi- Phikwe — Callies was on the brink of collapse until former Mosquito coach, Chakalisa 'Chucks' Mahube came to the rescue.
The club is one of the oldest in Selebi-Phikwe. In recent years, it has been hit by financial problems and a dwindling support base which saw a number of players jumping ship. But last season, Mahube set about picking up the pieces and he is confident that he has assembled a team ready to challenge for top honours in the lower division. He is eager to get the club out of the Third Division as early as this season. The club's preseason form has given club officials fresh hope that happy times might be back.
Last weekend, Callies crushed Second Division side, Makanyang 6-2. The win has boosted morale in the Callies' camp and renewed confidence which has been evidently missing in the last few years. Mahube said the club is on a rebuilding exercise. In his first season, he guided the club to sixth place in the 12-team league.
He said he had to adjust from coaching in the Premier League and the First Division to Third Division. Now that he has 'acclimatised', Mahube believes his side will only get better. "At the end of last season, you could see that we were organised. We have signed new players; young and experienced. We want the experienced players to provide guidance," he said.
He revealed that they have been playing Second Division clubs in the pre-season to increase the level of their preparedness. Mahube said although their early form cannot be used to predict a good season ahead, there is optimism that things will go well. "The signs (of a good season) are there. Our target is to do well during the first round of the league and this would lessen pressure going into the second round," Mahube said. He added that the players are enjoying their football and are much more confident than last season. "Our aim is to move away from the Third Division and then we will take it from there. We are not saying the Second Division is much different from the third, but it is better to move a notch up," Mahube said. He added that from his assessment last season, his side can make it to the Second Division. He said the presence of qualified coaches in the league has raised the standard of the game.
He said when he went down to coach a Third Division side, he was confronted by a number of challenges like poor officiating and failure to honour fixtures. However, Mahube, who took Mosquito to the Premier League four years ago said he has adjusted to life in the lower division. "It is not easy but I am happy with what I have done. The good thing is that there isn't much of expenditure as the teams are local but there is lack of resources like kits," Mahube said.
He was optimistic that the situation will change in the near future and the club will get playing kits. Callies' chairperson, Malebogo Moilwa expressed confidence that the club will be promoted to the Second Division at the end of the season. He said the club has got the quality to compete. "Last season, the confidence of the players was low. We had a high turnover of players but we have managed to register new ones," Moilwa said. He added that their pre-season form gives them reason to be confident of a better campaign. He lamented that their efforts to market the club to the community have been held back by lack of finance. He urged supporters to come forward to help build Callies into a formidable force.
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