Dylan Kerr has made it a habit to ink every coaching achievement on his legs, and the English mentor cannot wait to have the Marumo Gallants logo tattooed on him.
Kerr has been appointed Gallants’ head coach ahead of the club’s return to the DStv Premiership next season. Gallants bought the top-flight status of Moroka Swallows for a sum believed to be worth multi-millions.
Abram Sello, Marumo president, has clearly outlined Kerr’s mandate and expectations for the upcoming term as the duo continue to their working relationship for the umpteenth spell.
“I worked with him on three occasions. When we got Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila, we were number 16 and he made miracles. He got us the medal in the Nedbank Cup and he got a tattoo for that,” said Sello.
“The Carling Black Label or the Nedbank Cup, he is either getting one of them. We have to be in the top eight if the club performs well, we want to see ourselves in that bracket. He knows the target very well, he knows his game and we believe in him and his ability to build the players.
“Ranga Chivaviro was the most talked about player last season and that is from the coach’s contribution. We expect much and he has to deliver more,” Sello added.
"When I have a day off or an afternoon free, I don't mind driving for three hours to go watch a football tournament."
In the 2022/23 season, Gallants reached the CAF Confederation Cup semi-final, but that came at the expense of their top-flight status as they got relegated under Kerr’s watch.
“I achieved nothing at Gallants. The chairman brought me to the club to save it and it was one hell of a journey. Unfortunately, I did not save the status and it is up to the players, they play, not me,” said Kerr.
“I would love to have the club’s badge on my leg but it is all up to the players. We’ve got a mission this season and I feel it is achievable. It is important that we stay in the league so I can get the tattoo,” he added.
The club have plans underway to permanently relocate to the Free State where they hope to ride the wave of football-hungry Bloemfontein Celtic supporters, who are known to be the most vibrant set of fans in the country.
“We all know how massive Free State is for football. Free State Stars are gone, Bloemfontein Celtic are gone and it is a no-brainer (to move to Free State) because we went there for four games in the 2022/23 season and it was what the province wanted – people wanted to see football,” said Kerr.
“It is very important that as a club, we become involved with the local community. For those who don’t know what I do when I have a day off or an afternoon free, I don’t mind driving for three hours to go watch a football tournament which is played in the mud with wooden sticks as the goalposts.
“Where kids took off their boots when they went off to give kids who were coming on as substitutes. I enjoy that. I enjoy meeting the gogos and the supporters, and I would have a beer with them and we would talk about South African life because they would educate me,” Kerr added.
