Local coach aims to empower the youth through football
“My coaching journey started with the Super Falcons Ladies Academy, affiliated to JHB Women’s Regional League, intending to transform the team to their best ability."
Kempton Park FC coach Phuthumani Jonisile aims to empower local young soccer players.
Jonisile, also known as coach Shuger, said he was a soccer player before becoming a coach.
He said he loved how football took him away from the societal ills and kept his body and mind active.
“My love for football is profound. It started at a young age playing on the streets and elevated to joining a team in the township called Harold United FC at the age of 13 years.
“That is where the development started and my passion grew stronger.
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“Football took me out of the unbearable streets and taught me how to stay disciplined and organised,” said Jonisile.
He said he was once absconded at his previous workplace due to his football career.
Jonisile started his coaching career in 2022.
“My coaching journey started with the Super Falcons Ladies Academy, affiliated to JHB Women’s Regional League, intending to transform the team to their best ability.
“The team achieved fourth and third positions between 2022 and 2023 with five games remaining and got an award for making the team competitive.”
Jonisile joined the Kempton Park FC journey in 2023 when his friend Thabang Manaka introduced him to coach Kanu, the former Kempton Park FC U8 Premier coach.
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“As it happened, they were looking for coaches, and I grabbed the opportunity to become his assistant coach for the U6 team.
“The following season, Simbongile Baqwa, the U7 manager, allowed me to be the head coach for a project to develop the children. The team won the Easterns U7 L1,” said Jonisile.
“I enjoy being a coach; it is a challenging chapter.”
Jonisile said that being a coach is an investment that he made during his time as a player.
In his career, Jonisile has coached various local football clubs and made an impact on the players.
He coached Drake Koka Primary School’s U11s and U15s in 2015 and 2016.
Jonisile aims to focus on the player’s technical abilities, tactical awareness, and understanding of various roles of the game and maintain the same standard of competitiveness at their level.
“I want to produce the best players in the country, attain coaching certificates and be in the best academy globally.”
