Thando Zulu, from local lad to Portugal student
Mr Zulu was selected to read for a post graduate degree for High Performance Football at the University of Lisbon in Portugal from next year.
In the pursuit of success, Thando Zulu is well on his way in creating a name for himself in football.
“I’m not a football player. I’m a football coach. The game for me is a tool to influence and change lives. My ambition is to work at the Elite level, be it local or international. I hope to pass on the knowledge I have gained to coaches, players and anyone in the football fraternity. Newcastle is close to my heart, so I also hope I can contribute by giving back the invested knowledge,” Mr Zulu said.
Recently, he was given the opportunity to expand his knowledge on football, thereby acquiring the neccessary tools to develop upcoming football stars.
Mr Zulu was selected to read for a post graduate degree for High Performance Football at the University of Lisbon in Portugal from next year.
The Newcastle-born Mr Zulu said when he received his letter of acceptance, he was absolutely thrilled.
“My immediate reaction was to thank God for the opportunity. I couldn’t stop running around my place of work, people thought I was crazy.”
Mr Zulu, who works at The King’s School Robin Hills as a sport manager, and at Wits University as head coach of U20 men’s football team on a part time basis, said he first heard about the university course offered in Lisbon from a coach he had been following on Twitter.
“After reading his tweet; I visited the faculty website and read more about the programme. When I read the requirements needed to participate, I met all of them and I was qualified to apply, I decided to take the risk,” he said.
Mr Zulu explained High Performance Football was not merely about kicking a soccer ball around.
High Performance Football is about science, about integrating sports science and sports medicine. Furthermore, it involves innovation as well as enthusiasm and commitment.
“The purpose of High Performance Football is to continuously improve, to be ahead of your competitors, organisation alignment and cohesion and living excellence.”
With a Sports Science degree already to his name. Mr Zulu said he had high hopes for the future.
“I hope to build networks that might help the country, get up to date with trends of coach education, and to be inspired so that I can help create solutions for South African football.”
Mr Zulu will be making his way to Portugal in January 2016. However, he does need assistance.
“I need funding for tuition, accommodation, flights, stationery and basic allowance. I’ve drafted a proposal where individuals or organisations can get involved. During this time of the year most companies are going on holiday so it makes funding a challenge. But I’m hopeful that something can still be done. No matter how small the contribution, it all counts,” he concluded.
