Diary of a Football Manager – Episode 2: I am the Special One

It’s crunch time in the South African second division. If you’ve ever taken on the Pentagon Challenge you know it’s a rollercoaster of emotions, and I’m right in the middle of it. Let me take you into the second half of the first season, and the madness that’s unfolded so far. If you’re just joining me, check out Episode 1 to get an idea of what the FM Pentagon Challenge is, shoiuld you want to try it yourself.

With 10 games to go, we’d worked our way up to a solid 2nd place. The cream had risen to the top and the men were separated from the boys. With 10 games to go, I nervously kept checking over my shoulder at the chasing pack. Five games left, and we were only five points behind the league leaders Maritzburg Utd. I started to think, “Could we actually pull this off?” 

Spoiler alert: we could not infact pull this off and I got ahead of myself. 

Fast forward a few matches, and reality set in. With only two games left, we were still four points behind Maritzburg. Coming 1st wasn’t on the cards anymore, but we had secured a playoff place. I mean, who doesn’t love the completely stress-free playoffs?

With one game remaining, it was official: we were playoff-bound, aiming for a spot in the top division of South African football. Shout out to AmaTuks for helping us out when we needed it most.

While my playoff spot was safe, the same couldn’t be said for my opponents. JDR Stars were three points ahead of third-placed NB La Masia, with a superior goal difference. All they had to do was avoid a disaster, and they’d be fine. Naturally, disaster struck. I managed to beat JDR Stars, and NB La Masia responded by winning 5-0, securing their own playoff place. Absolute scenes.

All they had to do was avoid a disaster, and they’d be fine.

The South African Premier Soccer League playoffs had finally arrived. Four games to get promoted. We kicked things off with a big away win, and Ndawonde—my star man—did what he does best, finding the back of the net. The second match wasn’t quite so simple.

At the 66-minute mark, we were 3-0 up and cruising. I relaxed a bit too much, almost letting the game run while I went to do something else. Thankfully, I didn’t, because the unthinkable nearly happened (not unthinkable if you regularly play Football Manager). Sekhuk scored an 82nd-minute penalty, then bagged another goal in the 89th. Cue full panic mode. I went full Mikel Arteta and brought on five defenders and five midfielders—we were PARKING THE BUS. We held on, but wow, that was way more stressful than it needed to be.

✓ What we said about Football Manager 2024

Obviously, we love the game, Giving it a near-perfect 9.5/10 in our review we said: “In a time where so many games are focussing on the flashiest possible graphics, Football Manager 2024 strips the shimmer back to its bare bones and instead presents us with one of the best sports games ever released.”

And then, the final game of the season. We were in the driver’s seat, needing only a draw to seal promotion. Still, I was nervous. NB La Masia took the lead after 23 minutes, just to make sure my stress levels were at an all-time high. Fortunately, Lucky Baloyi saved the day with a goal just after halftime. Then we had another stroke of luck as Miguel Dias picked up two yellows in 15 minutes and was sent off.

We were in the driver’s seat, needing only a draw to seal promotion. Still, I was nervous.

Side note: I checked Dias’ profile after the season ended, and he retired at 30 to become a scout. He really did not react well to the red card. With their man down, we sealed the deal with a second goal from Lucky Baloyi and earned promotion. Mission accomplished.

Promoted in my first season, with a team predicted to finish 11th. And people doubt my managerial prowess. It’s been a brilliant start to the Pentagon Challenge, but there’s still a long way to go before I can claim victory in all five major continental competitions.

Stay tuned—there’s plenty more drama to come.