Tshabalala warns Otladisa over angry reaction after early substitution

Former Platinum Stars winger Tintswalo Tshabalala has criticised Katlego Otladisa’s reaction to being substituted early in Marumo Gallants’ 2-0 defeat by Orlando Pirates.

Otladisa was taken off in the 22nd minute of Sunday’s Betway Premiership match, with the score still goalless. New Gallants head coach Ronnie Kanalelo made the unexpected change before Pirates eventually secured victory.

Kanalelo questioned the midfielder’s commitment after the match, saying his decision had been prompted by a lack of effort and the threat posed down Gallants’ right flank.

“It was all about not giving effort. I think that the willingness was not there to help the team and we had to take action, you know, before it was too late, because it was evident that Pirates targeted our right side,” Kanalelo said.

Otladisa, described as a former Buccaneer winger, was visibly angry after reaching the substitutes’ bench and was seen throwing tantrums following his withdrawal.

Tshabalala told KICK OFF that a coach is entitled to remove a player who is not carrying out instructions, even if the decision comes early in a match. However, he warned that the move could have negative consequences while Kanalelo is still trying to establish himself at Gallants and gain the trust of the dressing room.

“If you don’t give the coach what he wants, at any given time he can take you out. If as a coach you don’t give me what I want, I have to take you out. Maybe he (Otladisa) was not following his instructions, sometimes the coach would say move this way and you do your own thing? No, I take you out,” Tshabalala said.

He also said a coach must consider how an early substitution could affect the unity of the squad, particularly when the player being removed has influence over his team-mates.

“(However) it could backfire, you know as players sometimes we become one unit, so you destroy that, we would never win for you. In fact you win the game in the changeroom first, you have to know that. Sometimes the player you take out is the one influencing other players.”

Despite defending Kanalelo’s authority to make the change, Tshabalala condemned Otladisa’s conduct and urged him to respond professionally.

“But when it comes to reality, if they take you out after a minute from the start of the game, you have to be strong, because you don’t know the future. Football is cruel,” said Tshabalala, a former Black Leopards left-back-cum winger.

“I’m very disappointed that he did that, he should know better. He has long been in football. You remain professional and ask the coach afterwards. You don’t react like that when a coach takes you out. There’s no star in football. That mentality has to pass. How many players are not playing because of attitude?”

Tshabalala added that Otladisa, now a senior player, needed to remember that football was his profession rather than an amateur “kasi challenge”.

“He can do better. I will confront him. I’ll tell him straight to stop that attitude,” he said.