Vukusic: ‘I Came Back Because I Like It Her…

Jozef Vukusic during the 2020 Nedbank Cup Last 32 match between Bloemfontein Celtic and AmaZulu

Slovak coach Jozef Vukusic is back in South Africa and quietly exploring possible opportunities in the PSL ahead of the new season.

The experienced UEFA Pro Licence coach was recently spotted in Sandton, Johannesburg, with indications that he is open to discussions with clubs looking to strengthen their technical structures both on and off the field.

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Speaking exclusively to Soccer Laduma’s Siya crew, Vukusic explained that his return was motivated by his affection for the country and his continued passion for South African football.

“You know, I came back because I like it here,” Vukusic told the Siya crew. “I’ve been in touch with people, especially in Cape Town, and I will also fly there to meet some old friends.”

The former Polokwane City and AmaZulu FC coach revealed that he watched some of the matches during the final round of Betway Premiership fixtures last weekend and is also planning to follow the Motsepe Foundation Championship playoffs closely.

“I wanted to come and watch the games here again. I watched the last round of fixtures, and now I will also check some of the playoff matches if I can,” he said.

Vukusic added that he has remained a close follower of the local game despite spending time abroad.

“I was not surprised by what I saw because I follow the league a lot. I was also watching the (CAF) Champions League final, and I am happy for Mamelodi (Sundowns). So, football is always part of my life. Now I am back here again,” he explained.

The Slovak tactician remains highly regarded for his work at Polokwane City, where he guided the club to a historic fifth-place finish in the Premiership in 2019 after collecting 44 points across a full league campaign – one of the strongest seasons in the club’s history at the time.

Known for his emphasis on player development and recruitment, Vukusic has coached 11 topflight clubs in six different countries and also spent five years within the Slovakia U21 national team structures.

He became one of the first Slovakian coaches to obtain the German UEFA Pro Licence.

The former PSL coach also opened up on his recent situation in Europe, revealing that a project he had been involved in came to an end due to complications linked to the Russia-Ukraine war.

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“Previously I worked on one project in Europe, but because of the Russia-Ukraine war, the project finished because it was connected to a Russian owner. There were complications,” he said.

With several PSL clubs expected to make technical changes ahead of the upcoming campaign, Vukusic’s return to Mzansi could potentially attract interest in the coming weeks.

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