Doctor Khumalo has turned down an offer of the coaching job at Baroka Football Club.
Khumalo, hired by the Limpopo club as a technical director in August last year, told the Sunday Times he declined to step into the space created by the suspension of Kgoloko Thobejane because he doesn't "want to rise at the expense of other people".
In early February the Baroka club suspended head coach Thobejane, who it was alleged was drinking in the team bus. It is said to have happened when the Limpopo side was on a road trip returning from a 2-0 defeat by Free State Stars in a Premier Soccer League match in Goble Park, Bethlehem.
When officials inquired whether he would be interested in the job, Khumalo, 50, said no.
"They did ask me to take over after I was informed about what allegedly happened - because I was not aware of it. I don't want to rise at the expense of other people."This is a serious matter. I wish we could reverse the whole thing. He [Thobejane] was a fun guy to work with. I was learning from him and he was learning from me.
"I felt it would be proper for the assistant coach to be given the opportunity."
The void has been filled by assistant coach MacDonald Makhubedu, who is being aided by Thoka Matsimela, head coach of the MultiChoice Diski Challenge team.
Khumalo did not rule out taking the Baroka hot seat under different conditions.
"I didn't come here to boot anyone out of a job. If it is offered because there is a vacancy, then we can talk," he said. "That way I'm starting on a clean slate, in a new season it would be great.
"As a qualified coach it would be proper to consider that post because I would not be trampling on someone's toes."
Khumalo has levels one, two and three coaching badges from the South African Football Association (Safa), an English Football Association licence as well as the Uefa B licence obtained through the German Football Association.
He had a short stint as co-caretaker head coach with Donald "Ace" Khuse when Kaizer Chiefs suspended Muhsin Ertugral in 2003.
Having cut his coaching teeth with the Chiefs under-17 development team, Khumalo worked as an assistant coach to Ertugral.
He was second-in-command to Steve Komphela until his move to Baroka six months ago...