Two years ago Glen Minnie was in his element after guiding Shiloh FC to the Safa-Buffalo City SAB Regional League 2013-14 title.
He now returns to East London – his coaching spiritual home – but wearing a different cap as Chippa United’s reserve side mentor.
After a not so good campaign thus far with three wins, two draws and three losses, Minnie is hoping his fortunes change when his charges host Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday afternoon in a MultiChoice Diski Challenge (MDC) at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane.
The plan is to beat Sundowns – the current log-leaders with just a single blemish – and kickstart his dream of repeating his heroics with Shiloh.
And there could be no better place for him to embark on a new trajectory than Sisa Dukashe – a venue where he never tasted defeat whilst coach of Shiloh. Minnie is hoping his winning streak at the NU3 stadium will continue – a year or so after having last played there.
Sundowns may be undefeated in seven matches in a row since they lost their season opener to Orlando Pirates in September, but Minnie is confident his charges will stop them in their tracks.
And if recent history is anything to go by, Chippa have every reason to be confident ahead of their meeting with the Brazilians.
This because Minnie, this season, has proved to have the formula on how to emerge tops against the so-called big clubs.
Of the three wins Chippa have managed, two were at the expense of Chiefs and Pirates which means a win over Downs will complete a solid record against the “big three”.
He is not the only one who believes the Pretoria side are in for a surprise come Sunday in SA’s second biggest township. His boss Siviwe Mpengesi believes Minnie will outsmart David Notoane, his opposite number at Sundowns.
“We are not panicking because we are not doing that badly as we beat Pirates and Chiefs which gives us hope that we will repeat such against Sundowns on Sunday,” said Mpengesi.
Even Minnie’s former boss at Shiloh, where he saw his coaching career take off, has confidence that his ex-employee will do what seven other MDC sides could not do.
Said Shiloh chairman Dion Vengadajellum: “I have no doubt Chippa will emerge against Sundowns because knowing Glen, he has a way of turning what looks impossible to a possibility which is at the heart of his growth in the coaching craft.”
Chippa are currently in 11th place in the logstandings, but finishing tops is within their sights and a possibility Minnie relishes.
But to him, that would be just a bonus as he finds satisfaction in producing players and developing them for top-flight soccer – the core objective behind the formation of the MDC.
And that is exactly the reason he was hired by Mpengesi despite some critics branding him a no-name coach.
Explained Mpengesi: “In Mr Minnie I saw a humble guy who is highly knowledgeable and with a deep understanding of development football and that is why I roped him in.”
Vengadajellum also praised Minnie for having a unique eye for potential soccer stars.
“Rest assured about one thing – Glen can see talent from afar. Even when a player is overlooked and condemned for wasting his time in the game, here is a guy who has a unique ability that can take the same player and bring greatness out of them.”
Like all ambitious coaches, Minnie has his sights set on plying his trade in the Premier League in the near future.
But, he says his loyalty is with Chippa. “I am a very loyal person and as such my long-term goal is to coach in the PSL, hopefully, attached to Chippa United, for chairman Mr Mpengesi was the one who saw potential in me when no one could. In this regard I will forever be grateful to him and forever loyal to his club.”
Mpengesi said Minnie was part of the club's long-term plans. “Development structure in our club is all about the future of Chippa United and we put Mr Minnie in charge of the MDC sides deliberately because he is part of those people with the responsibility to map the future for us.
“We have big plans for him.” — zingisam@dispatch.co.za
Glen has Midas touch for ‘Boys’
He now returns to East London – his coaching spiritual home – but wearing a different cap as Chippa United’s reserve side mentor.
After a not so good campaign thus far with three wins, two draws and three losses, Minnie is hoping his fortunes change when his charges host Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday afternoon in a MultiChoice Diski Challenge (MDC) at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane.
The plan is to beat Sundowns – the current log-leaders with just a single blemish – and kickstart his dream of repeating his heroics with Shiloh.
And there could be no better place for him to embark on a new trajectory than Sisa Dukashe – a venue where he never tasted defeat whilst coach of Shiloh. Minnie is hoping his winning streak at the NU3 stadium will continue – a year or so after having last played there.
Sundowns may be undefeated in seven matches in a row since they lost their season opener to Orlando Pirates in September, but Minnie is confident his charges will stop them in their tracks.
And if recent history is anything to go by, Chippa have every reason to be confident ahead of their meeting with the Brazilians.
This because Minnie, this season, has proved to have the formula on how to emerge tops against the so-called big clubs.
Of the three wins Chippa have managed, two were at the expense of Chiefs and Pirates which means a win over Downs will complete a solid record against the “big three”.
He is not the only one who believes the Pretoria side are in for a surprise come Sunday in SA’s second biggest township. His boss Siviwe Mpengesi believes Minnie will outsmart David Notoane, his opposite number at Sundowns.
“We are not panicking because we are not doing that badly as we beat Pirates and Chiefs which gives us hope that we will repeat such against Sundowns on Sunday,” said Mpengesi.
Even Minnie’s former boss at Shiloh, where he saw his coaching career take off, has confidence that his ex-employee will do what seven other MDC sides could not do.
Said Shiloh chairman Dion Vengadajellum: “I have no doubt Chippa will emerge against Sundowns because knowing Glen, he has a way of turning what looks impossible to a possibility which is at the heart of his growth in the coaching craft.”
Chippa are currently in 11th place in the logstandings, but finishing tops is within their sights and a possibility Minnie relishes.
But to him, that would be just a bonus as he finds satisfaction in producing players and developing them for top-flight soccer – the core objective behind the formation of the MDC.
And that is exactly the reason he was hired by Mpengesi despite some critics branding him a no-name coach.
Explained Mpengesi: “In Mr Minnie I saw a humble guy who is highly knowledgeable and with a deep understanding of development football and that is why I roped him in.”
Vengadajellum also praised Minnie for having a unique eye for potential soccer stars.
“Rest assured about one thing – Glen can see talent from afar. Even when a player is overlooked and condemned for wasting his time in the game, here is a guy who has a unique ability that can take the same player and bring greatness out of them.”
Like all ambitious coaches, Minnie has his sights set on plying his trade in the Premier League in the near future.
But, he says his loyalty is with Chippa. “I am a very loyal person and as such my long-term goal is to coach in the PSL, hopefully, attached to Chippa United, for chairman Mr Mpengesi was the one who saw potential in me when no one could. In this regard I will forever be grateful to him and forever loyal to his club.”
Mpengesi said Minnie was part of the club's long-term plans. “Development structure in our club is all about the future of Chippa United and we put Mr Minnie in charge of the MDC sides deliberately because he is part of those people with the responsibility to map the future for us.
“We have big plans for him.” — zingisam@dispatch.co.za
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