LOCALLY BREWED FORMER PLAYERS TAKE TO COACHING

High flying young coaches show their mettle (picture photo of Mpho)

Their names and images have graced the pages of leading publications and television screens. They did what they had to do to the satisfaction of their fans and other sports enthusiasts. Some of them hold national records in their respective fields.

And now, Keitumetse “Pio”

Paul, Seipei Gaelisiwe, Lechedzani “Master” Luza, Mpho Bakwadi, Bobby Khupe, Glody Dube and many more have been on the touchlines and ring corners in recent competitions and this brought back countless memories of their time as active players. They are very passionate, shouting instructions, pacing up and down touchlines, no more as the days they were their teams’ winners when unlocking their opponents’ defences and eventually emerging triumphant. These were all top quality in their day on the field of play and are now forging their careers as top coaches. Indeed, there is an increasing number of former local athletes and international stars who have been given opportunities to work as head coaches. Definitely, club owners and national bodies must be lauded for a job well done.

This simply means the number of ineffective imports from outside the country that used to dominate the country’s coaching structures is increasingly limited these days.

General consensus is that our own stars of the past are being given a chance to coach at the top level has been noticed by management and hence they have done their part. These posts are not for the faint-hearted and it is up to them to prove they are capable of leading national teams and they must know that these days pressure comes from all corners of the game, be it supporters, management, investors and even players themselves and there is no more give us time we are still rebuilding.

Big countries that we envy and adore in sports do not have time either, so what is so special about us which has never been there? Probably the best sport in the country, softball has been rebuilding forever when they have participated in numerous world cups.

Boxing and karate still have a point to prove to the nation as most stars have come from them and they never really convinced enough. We have them young coaches but do they have enough experience to play at international level?

Young coaches need to use these opportunities, not only for themselves but for many with the same profile like them and have similar ambitions if not more determined, they have quality to work with and if they are to help prove that former star players can go on and become good coaches, they only have limited time to us.

Former international athletic superstar Glody Dube who also serves within the athletics body says it depends, arguing that it does not necessarily mean that if you are a good athlete or sportsman automatically you are destined to be a good coach.

He says this comes from his personal experience where as president of Botswana Athletics Association (BAA), there is a lot happening behind the scenes, adding that from outside it looks easy.

“There is pressure of working with too many people and they all need answers,” says Dube. This simply means the number of ineffective imports from outside the country that used to dominate the country’s coaching structures is increasingly limited these days. It seems general consensus that our own playing stars of the past be given a chance to coach at the top level has been noticed by management and hence they (management) have been roused into action. These are not posts for the faint-hearted and it is up to them to prove they are capable of leading national teams and they must know that these days pressure comes from all corners of the game, be it supporters, management, investors and even players themselves and there is no more, “give us time we are still in a rebuilding process.”

The former secretary general of the Botswana Golf Union (BGU),who is also a professional golf player Mpho Kelosiwang says this is a sensitive issue because it can mislead.

“Yes, they (sports clubs and national teams) need experience and skills of former players, but management is a completely different level.

“People should be careful when it comes to administration because it’s a totally different ball game. Remember now we talking building sports as an industry where lots of things are involved.

“We are even talking about taking care of the grassroots, players, supporters and working with other stakeholders, hence sacrificing your time,” Kelosiwang argues..

Big countries that we even adore in sports do not have time either, so what is so special about us which has never been there, probably the best sport in the country, softball has been rebuilding forever when they have participated in world cups.

Boxing and karate still have a point to prove to the nation as most stars have come from them and they never really convinced enough. We have them young coaches but do they have enough experience to play at international standards level?

Young coaches need to use these opportunities, not only for themselves but for many with the same profile like them and have similar ambitions if not more determined, they have quality to work with and if they are to help prove that former star players can go on and become good coaches, they only have limited time to us so. Our young coaches will find themselves judged harshly in the beginning because there is always doubters no matter what and it always happens and if they perform miracles, they will strike an important blow for other young coaches in an increasingly market and we will be willing on them. The question is, are they taking us somewhere in terms of progress?