SoccerClub sits down with Siwelele CEO Khumbulani Konco to find out what it takes to run a PSL club, writes Mazola Molefe in SoccerClub magazine.

How long have you been CEO at Bloemfontein Celtic?

I’ve been in this position for nearly five years now and it takes a lot of hard work behind the scenes. You also have to love what you are doing.

You must have experienced the good and the bad. What are the pros and cons of being involved with a football team in the PSL?

Sure, we’ve had good and bad times. I think winning the Telkom Knockout [left] in 2012 at Moses Mabhida Stadium was special. As for the bad; any loss at home. I have seen young boys from our development team or from another club grow in front of me to become professional players. Some have even made it on to the international stage. But the disappointing aspect is when you see a player developing, but opting to move to the so-called ‘big teams’ before they are ready, only to disappear off the radar.

What goes on behind the scenes when a club is trying to buy a player?

Firstly, there’s a scouting process. Has the player been watched enough, will he fit in the club set-up? And then secondly, you begin to discuss affordability and whether his club would be willing to release him. The third element is negotiations with his representatives, which can be tricky.

And what about selling, or losing a player as a free agent? We imagine it can be quite complex.

I wouldn’t say it’s complex but it’s heartbreaking to lose a player for free. When you have given a young player a three-year contract, you expect him to gradually improve – a few games in his first season and at least 10 in his second. Then in his third he blossoms, but by then his agent has already made plans for him to leave the club. The agent makes more money on the transfer of the player, therefore he will always encourage them to move. Not all agents operate the same way.

Sometimes we have to sell because the player isn’t interested in sticking around when his contract expires. In some instances, they force their way out because they feel the contract is perhaps too long – say five years. But they give the wrong impression to the media to make sure we let them go.

You were forced to make a coaching change with Serame Letsoaka replacing Clinton Larsen. How unsettling is it to have coaching troubles at Celtic?

Very unsettling. I believe in giving a coach enough time, especially when things are tough. We need to exercise patience when dealing with coaches, until such a time that they tell us it’s not working. The new coach always needs time to implement his philosophy and style of play. You need to give him space and bring in players he has recommended and feels will bring the change the club needs.

– This article first appeared in Issue 75 of SoccerClub magazine