Retired former Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates star midfielder Thabo Mngomeni is thrilled about getting his Caf B licence diploma.
Mngomeni has made a low-key return with the junior national teams. He has been the SA Under-15 and Under-17 assistant coach in the last couple of years.
Last week, the midfield workhorse who won the 2001 Caf Goal of the Year was part of the 25 coaches who graduated with Caf B diplomas. And this means he now qualifies to sit on the bench during Caf continental and club competitions.
Graduated with other coaches
Other notable coaches who graduated from the same programme were Aaron Mokoena, Khabo Zondo and Papi Zothwane. Also Tlou Segolela, Thabo September, Kurt Lentjies, Morgan Mammila and Joseph “Duku Duku” Makhanya. McDonald Makhubela too, to mention but a few.
In his playing days, Mngomeni was a fan favourite at both the Buccaneers and Bafana. He is most remembered for his dreadlocks and his Rastafarian way of life. Mngomeni retired from professional football in 2002.
That was when he was in the books of the now-defunct Hellenic FC, after a recurring injury. He was only 33 years old. Other clubs that he played for were Cape Town Spurs and the Umtata Bucks.
“These coaching courses will help us to align what we have in our brains. Also how we can transform it and share it with our youth and senior players.
“We are now empowered, and I feel so great about the knowledge and education that I got in the training course. It will now be easier for me to share and teach footballers,” Mngomeni opened up to Sunday World.
He said that working with the players of today is a bit of a challenge. “The issue with the kids of today is that they need to invest time in this game and profession. They need to play games repeatedly and know each other’s strengths. It looks like they only meet at training, and I do not believe that is enough.
Looking to impart the skills to young players
“But they are lucky and have the advantage that we are here. We are scholars of the game, and we can teach them much quicker.
In our days, our coaches did not have coaching qualifications. And we were forced to teach ourselves a lot of things and motivate each other. They just have to listen and learn, and their future will be bright,” he added.
Mngomeni was also known for his spectacular goals. One such is the remarkable overhead bicycle kick against Congo that won the 2001 Caf Goal of the Year.
Now 55, he has represented Bafana 38 times and scored six goals for the SA senior national team. Two years ago, he launched the Thabo Mngomeni Foundation. And he has also been keeping himself busy and occupied by coaching in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape.
Thabo also played for Manning Rangers.