From dusty township soccer grounds to coaching Wits University FC B – Team
By Lekhotla Koena
Even though the emergence of Coronavirus pandemic has delayed most sporting activities, a local coach from Zamdela, Sasolburg, is still determined to fly high in soccer coaching and in pursuing his football studies further.
Popularly known as ‘Stuka’, Tumelo Raboroko is currently coaching Wits University B team that will be playing in the SAFA Johannesburg region, with its first team taking part in the ABC Motsepe League in Gauteng.
Raboroko is determined to reach for his dream of coaching one of the top teams in South Africa and even abroad.
Stuka’s love for soccer and coaching started in the dusty football grounds of Zamdela when in 2008 he started with developing and coaching young football players from Under 9 to Under 19. He was roped in the SAFA Metsimaholo Local Football Association as a Deputy Secretary.
In 2010 Raboroko took his passion further when he formed Madrid Football Academy to further develop, expose talent and giving opportunities to the young football players.
“I also made sure that I give players opportunities of participating in SAFA and various tournaments,”said Stuka.
He also got an opportunity to work with the Nelson Mandela Primary school in Harry Gwala Zamdela as a head coach and took their team to the finals of the Danone tournament in 2015 where they lost to Gauteng.
‘Stuka’ has managed to obtain the FIFA Grass root certificate, SAFA B License with his highest qualification being Caf C licence. “ My passion and love for football has brought me here, my wish and desire is to see young players developing and getting opportunity to showcase their talent” said Raboroko.
In November 2017 Raboroko was invited for the interview at Wits University Fc to coach their Under 15 B development team. Having passed the interview, he started his work as a coach at Wits University Fc in January 2018 and in 2019 he was promoted to coach the club’s Under 15 A team. He is now placed in the B team that will be playing in the SAFA Johannesburg region
He also run a football project in Zamdela called ‘Citizens Football Project’ with the aim of further developing, identifying talent and giving the players exposure by participating in various tournaments and helping them find promotion to other professional teams.
Through his academy Raboroko has managed to place 10 young players from Zamdela to various professional academies. In 2014 one of his young player Molahlehi Khunyedi was taken up by Wits University, and was called to the Under 20 national team. The same player signed a 3 year professional contract with the same club and now Khunyedi has joined Premier Soccer League’s side Stellenbosch FC in the Dstv Premiership.
“Other players from the academy who have joined professional teams are Ntando Nkosi (Kaizer Chiefs fc) and Mdududzi Mokoena (Supersport Fc), both are in the Multichoice Diski Challenge.
“Other young players from Zamdela who are now playing in the premier league in the country are Sbusiso Hlubi(Maritzburg United fc), Moeketsi Makhanya(Swallows Fc) and Siphelo Baloni who plays for JDR Stars Fc in the National First Division,”explained Stuka.
Coach Raboroko has advised young players to remain focused and continue with their studies and extra training.
“Players of today must be better than the previous generation, they must know the importance of education in their football career, and that will give them balance, they must must have passion and desire to succeed,” said coach Raboroko.
“To other local coaches I would like to encourage them to continue working hard and remember that football has changed thus they should also focus on educating themselves by attending coaching courses.”
Coach ‘Stuka’ looks up to other coaches as well for motivation and inspiration like Steve Komphela, Rhulani Mokwena, Pitso Mosimane and others, while abroad he identifies himself with the likes of Pep Guardiola.
