Lafitte Unfazed By Age Factor After Taking Over At Gallants
Marumo Gallants’ new coach, Alexandre Lafitte, says he is not worried about coaching players who are older than him, as he is the youngest-ever coach to take charge of a South African top-flight team in PSL history.
Before his appointment at the Bloemfontein-based outfit, the 28-year-old mentor made global history by becoming the youngest top-flight coach in the world when he was roped in by Stade d’Abidjan of Ivory Coast at the age of 25 in January 2023.
During his tenure in West Africa, Lafitte steered the Ivorian side back to the CAF Champions League, where they crashed out in the group stages last season, before guiding the team to their first league title in 56 years in the same campaign.
Now, ahead of his debut season in the lucrative Betway Premiership, the French tactician is determined to replicate the tactical nous he displayed in his last project, despite question marks on whether he can stabilize the dressing room at Gallants, given his age.
“For me, it’s not a problem, in different and past experiences we had players older than me, and we coached the players. We were in the CAF Champions League, and we played better in the championship in Ivory Coast,” Lafitte asserted.
“But for me, it’s important to help the players develop and to show them it’s possible to win with me, and I like to manage the older players because it’s easy. Experienced players on the team can help you win the games.
“And for me, development and management are collaborative between the players and the technical team, having the same objectives and focus. For me, it’s not a problem [to coach players older than me], and I like it.”
While many in the local football fraternity are casting doubts on his abilities and experience to coach in South Africa, Lafitte is raring to go and has done his homework on his new side, noting the solid foundation laid by Abdeslam Ouaddou, who has since joined Orlando Pirates.
“We have analyzed different games to acknowledge different players, and for that, we are excited to start working. I think for the last 10 games the team was fifth on the graph form in the league, and for me it’s important to keep the momentum and values,” he added.
“I need to improve and develop different football, a style of play that is more offensive because we want to control the game, we want to have possession, we want to do counter pressing, that’s very important.
“And for me, I think with my methodology to develop the players, the abilities and principles of the game, because football is very precious to me, I think with that, and maybe we add young and foreign players, it’s possible to perform again.”
Along with the Frenchman, Gallants unveiled the signings of former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Darrel Matsheke, Teboho Motloung, Bongolwethu Siyase, Abram Tjahikika, Simo Luthuli, Shaun Morgan, Kamohelo Sithole, Bheki Mabuza, Karabo Khoza, and Jaisen Clifford, who was linked to Pirates.
