Sekhukhune United head of development coach, Thabo Senong has rigorously explained what is really expected from him at the club as the development boss.
Senong served as an assistant coach to the recently fired coach Kaitano Tembo. However, upon the arrival of the new coach Brandon Truter, Senong was redeployed as head of development with Macdonald Makhubedu filling the assistant coach role.
The former South Africa U-20 team mentor said that Sekhukhune’s success will be strongly rooted in coaching, led by Brandon Truter, with him functioning more specifically as their individual development coach.
Senong, a local coach who have turned heads with his rapid rise, has explained that his job is to figure out what makes each player tick and what they need. Especially considering their physical, mental, technical and tactical capabilities and requirements, to ensure that the player’s development needs are being met beforebeing promoted to the senior side.
“I think it is not a secret that I’ve always been a developer as far as developing footballers is concerned and even developing coaches. My experience, my passion, my skills, they suit the phase of developing players, the phase of identifying and scouting talent,” Senong told ThisIsFootball.Africa.
“I’m overseeing our DDC which is headed by coach Morgan Gould, and I’m also overseeing our ABC Motsepe team, which is headed by Lizo Mjempu, the former Orlando Pirates left back. So, yes, my job is just to make sure that we develop the right talent that we can promote into our senior team.
“I must work closely with the coaching staff of the senior team and head coach Brandon Truter just to make sure that we give them the appropriate players. I’m overseeing the youth coaches, currently we have three youth coaches, and we also have two development teams. Next year, we’re going to make three development teams. It’ll be our ABC Motsepe team, our DDC, and our under 17 team.
“My job is to make sure that I develop a clear training methodology for our young players, a clear way of playing for our youth teams, and also clear scouting criteria so that we know the types of players that we are looking for at Sekhukhune United. Players that we can develop so that they can be players that can add value into the under 23 national team, under 20 national team, and essentially add value to our senior team which is Sekhukhune United.”
The 42-year-old tactician has also expressed his gratitude to the club’s management for entrusting him with his new position.
“I’m honestly happy and satisfied with the role,” he said.
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