Paulus Masehe, the stand-in coach for Sekhukhune United, addressed the decision to substitute Renaldo Leaner during a recent Betway Premiership match against Stellenbosch FC, describing the action as a protective measure rather than a rejection. The match concluded with Sekhukhune United suffering a 3-1 defeat, a result attributed in part to Leaner’s costly errors.
Leaner’s poor clearances led to two goals for Stellenbosch, scored by Genino Palace and Chumani Butsaka, at Athlone Stadium. Masehe expressed concern about Leaner’s confidence, stating, “I think it was more to protect him. His confidence was a bit low after committing two mistakes,” when speaking to SuperSport TV.
Masehe emphasized the nature of football as a game of mistakes, highlighting the role of coaching in safeguarding players’ confidence. “That’s why we are here to protect them [players], to make sure that at least we save a bit of pride for them,” he said.
Despite the defeat, Masehe expressed pride in his ability to infuse his identity into the team. He remarked, “At least I managed to add my identity and personality to the team,” reflecting a sense of achievement in his role despite the outcome.