Zothwane Inspires Sekhukhune Stars with His Experience

Sekhukhune United coach Papi Zothwane expressed his desire to leverage his experience as a former Premier Soccer League and Bafana Bafana player to inspire the next generation. He insisted that his ambition involves helping his players achieve what he and many of his peers were unable to accomplish in their careers.

During his time as a player at the highest level of South African football, Zothwane acquired critical knowledge that he aims to pass on to younger players, alongside other former players who have also transitioned to coaching. He acknowledged that some of his current players were not even born during his playing days but expressed belief that the more experienced members of his squad can help guide them and demonstrate what level he reached in his career.

Instead of reflecting on his own achievements, Zothwane focused on ensuring that his players not only match but surpass him, with an ultimate goal of seeing them represent Bafana Bafana. He emphasized the importance of his players being able to provide for their families and secure opportunities overseas, citing the recent success of Relebohile Mofokeng as an example. "Unfortunately, some of them were not born when I was playing, but through the experienced players that are in the team, they always tell them what kind of player I was," Zothwane said to iDiski Times.

Zothwane noted, "I’m not a coach who speaks about themselves, but I want to help these players become better than me, Paulus, Teko, and many other players that came before them. I want to see them playing in the national team, making a difference in their lives, taking care of their families, and making it abroad. Rele [Mofokeng] has done it, but unfortunately, us, with the talent we had, we couldn’t."

The former PSL star also highlighted the impact of having coaches who possess firsthand experience of professional football as a significant motivational factor for young players. However, Zothwane reiterated that the onus ultimately lies with his squad to translate the lessons learned during training into matchday performances.

"But it motivates them to be coached by people who played the game, who know what they are talking about. It can only motivate them because us, we can only talk, but it’s about them implementing whatever we are saying," he added.

Zothwane acknowledged that Sekhukhune still has room for improvement to reach the level he envisions, yet he believes the players are responding positively to his methods as they strive towards their objectives. "So far, they have responded positively to how we want them to play. Unfortunately, we are not where we want to be, but in terms of the result, in terms of the progress, we are slowly getting there," he concluded. "It must be a motivation to them, to be coached by those who have played the game before."