D-licence a catapult in the right direction for Coach Major
Local soccer coach, Tshepo Thoka says his South African Football Association and Confederation of African Football D-licence qualification will catapult his coaching career to greater heights.
POLOKWANE – Tshepo Thoka, popularly known as coach Major in the football circles, joins a list of former professional footballers from the African continent who boast a D-licence qualification.
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. This feels like the first coaching qualification domino has fallen, meaning I am now a Safa/CAF D-licenced qualified coach. This qualification has not only refreshed, but updated my knowledge about the intricacies of the seven stages of the long-term player development and how to train players accordingly. We are in an industry that is constantly evolving and modernising and acquiring such qualifications will stand me in good stead, knowing that I have practical experience as well as theoretical knowledge. Such qualifications can always be a stepping stone to enrolling for other similar and modern qualifications, such as sport science and to become a sport performance analyst. So, this definitely helps broaden sports career opportunities, improves chances of career progression and will always serve as a stepping stone in football coaching opportunities.”
“My favourite coach is Arsene Wenger; he said you build a player like you build a house – you start with the foundations. The fundamentals. Basically you can’t be looking to win every time while at the development stage as that would now mean you’re neglecting teaching the young players the proper basics as that requires time and patience. With that said, with this qualification coupled with the experience acquired over the years, one has now added another tool in equipping myself to help the upcoming talents fully unleash their potential.”
Thoka aspires to be among a new wave of skilled, well read and thoroughly researched technocrats as they are now called.
“I will always have a romantic view where I wish to be in circles where fellow coaches read and research on the game or other elements like technology or even elite training methods which can improve us as coaches or the game and players. Sport science and sport analytic are two things I have always taken a keen interest in and one sees himself also taking that route.”
