Luc Eymael targets Soweto Derby chance after unbeaten record in Africa

Belgium coach Luc Eymael believes his experience of managing some of Africa’s biggest clubs could eventually lead to the opportunity to coach in the Soweto Derby.

Eymael is currently without a club but remains hopeful of securing another job in Africa, a continent he regards as his football home. The former Free State Stars coach, who won the Nedbank Cup with the club, says his record in major derbies makes him a strong candidate for Kaizer Chiefs.

The 66-year-old has managed prominent sides including AS Vita Club, TP Mazembe, Simba and Eloi Lupopo. He believes that experience, as well as his success in high-pressure fixtures, could be valuable to Amakhosi.

“Coaching in the Soweto Derby is not a dream if you have coached AS Vita Club, TP Mazembe, Simba, and Eloi Lupopo. It is something that could easily happen, and it would be fantastic for me to coach either Orlando Pirates or Kaizer Chiefs,” Eymael told KickOff.

He said Kaizer Chiefs would be the more likely destination because he considers the club to have had a greater need for a coach in recent years.

“However, I believe Kaizer Chiefs are more in need of a coach at present. That has been the case for several years. I have been very fortunate in my career: I have never lost a derby. I have won several and drawn several, but never lost.”

Eymael also described the Soweto Derby as the biggest fixture on the continent, while comparing the demands of the match with those he encountered elsewhere in Africa.

“The Soweto Derby is the biggest in Africa, with more than 80,000 people attending. The pressure in derbies is similar, and perhaps greater in countries such as Tanzania than in South Africa, because public education is not the same,” he said.

He explained that a lack of awareness about pitch invasions and related incidents could create additional problems around derby matches in some countries.

“In some countries, people are not sufficiently informed about pitch invasions and related issues during derbies,” Eymael said.

His experience in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania has given him a close view of the security and crowd-management challenges that can accompany major fixtures.

“In Congo, you might witness a pitch invasion eight times in one season. This happens less often in Tanzania when matches are played in the main stadium, where the stands are high, but outside the stadium, the situation can be chaotic and very difficult in Tanzania.”

Eymael remains available for a new appointment and is hoping his background with leading African clubs will help him finally take charge of one of the continent’s most prominent football rivalries.