Sekhukhune United’s Paulus Masehe isn’t looking at the permanent job just yet. With Babina Noko currently fifth and chasing a CAF spot, the interim boss is focused on shedding old habits and finding the winning formula for the final four games. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Sekhukhune United interim coach Paulus Masehe has downplayed talk of a permanent appointment, insisting his attention remains fixed on stabilising the team in the final stretch of the Betway Premiership season.
Masehe stepped into the role following the departure of Eric Tinkler, with the club parting ways with the experienced mentor after a dip in results at a crucial stage of the campaign.
His start has been mixed.
A 3-1 defeat away to Stellenbosch FC was followed by a 1-1 draw against Marumo Gallants at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium — a result that did little to significantly boost their continental ambitions.
Sekhukhune now sit fifth on the table with 39 points from 26 matches, leaving them with ground to make up in the race for CAF Confederation Cup qualification. The gap to third-placed Kaizer Chiefs stands at seven points, with fourth-placed AmaZulu FC also ahead in the standings.
That context leaves Babina Noko with little margin for error. While the club has consistently expressed its desire to return to continental football, their path now depends not only on their own results but also on slip-ups from those above them.
For Masehe, however, the broader picture has not shifted his mindset.
“The role is a bit of a challenge because if you take a team at this time of the season, you are taking over with certain habits that might take a bit longer to come out,” he said.
The timing of his appointment has presented a delicate balancing act — attempting to impose new ideas while managing the realities of an established squad dynamic.
"To be honest, it’s an opportunity that I am taking one game at a time. I am not looking way far ahead. At the end of the day, it wasn’t something that was in my ambitions. I had given myself a bit of time to learn. But if it comes, I would grab it with both hands and make the best of it.”
His remarks reflect a coach aware of the opportunity but equally conscious of the immediate task.
With the season entering its decisive phase, Sekhukhune’s focus remains on results rather than long-term planning — and for Masehe, the path forward is simple: steady the ship, maximise points, and let the future take care of itself.