Dr. Xanti Pupuma, who is both a doctor and a football coach, has brought the Milford FC football club into the top division. He is the visionary and chairman of the club.
Balancing Career and Sport
It is rare in the Premier League of football for a head coach to be able to tell a player: 'Damn it, I brought you into this world, and I can get you out of this match.' Dr. Xanti Pupuma is one of the rare people who finds time for everything, including sleep. By profession, he is a gynecologist and spends his days helping give birth to children.
As soon as free time appears, he switches to the training field, leading his club's impressive rise to the top league of South African football. Despite an extremely tight schedule of three to five hours of sleep, combining medical practice and coaching a professional team, this proud tactician from the Eastern Cape always finds a way to cope with the workload.
Team Operating Principles
Pupuma explained that balancing medicine and football is difficult, but both activities are fields he enjoys. He emphasized that success requires meticulous planning, discipline, and a strong support system. Currently, the sacrifices are justified because they are living the dream with Milford FC.
Achieving the dream of reaching the top league is one thing, but surviving in it presents a completely different challenge. The KwaZulu-Natal team must double its pace to match the continuous rhythm of the PSL. Competition has become fiercer, especially after the 'Bafana Bafana's' prominent performances at the World Cup.
Tactical Priorities for the Season
Internally, every player will likely strive to improve their game in hopes of attracting the attention of national teams. The entire league is preparing for significant tactical changes, which is expected to raise the overall quality of play. As for Milford, their main priority in the campaign remains playing in an attractive, attacking style while maintaining their footballing identity.
Pupuma insisted that the team wants to play progressively, using ball possession, but also being aggressive without the ball. He added that they are not going to change their identity just because they are in a different league. Regarding adaptation to the PSL pace, he believes it will take about four to five matches. Since the pre-season period was significantly shortened due to participation in the promotion playoffs, an initial adjustment period is inevitable. However, the key point is that the players continue to believe in the process and improve in every game.
Long-Term Ambitions of the Club
In addition to this historic achievement for Pupuma and the club, there is a high goal—to fight for a spot in the top eight. Derby City laid an excellent foundation last season by winning the Nedbank Cup and securing a place in the top eight, which gave a powerful boost to KZN football. Pupuma concluded that the primary task is to establish themselves in the PSL and maintain top-division status. However, the ultimate goal is to reach the top eight, which would be a fantastic achievement for the club in its debut season at this level. He acknowledges that it will not be easy, but he believes in the squad they have formed and intends to approach every match with a competitive spirit focused on constant growth.
