26 July 2018 – Below see the profiles of the successful national team coaches:
South Africa’s National Under-20 (Amajita) Head Coach
Name: Thabo Senong
Age: 37
Place of Birth: Pimville, Soweto
Qualified: AFCON Under-20 2016 & 2018 and 2017 FIFA Under-20 World Cup
Previous coaching career: Spent five years at Orlando Pirates juniors and a year at Mamelodi Sundowns development structures
Best Achievement in career: Qualifying for the 2017 Fifa U-20 World Cup and also winning the Cosafa U-20 Cup
South Africa’s National Under-17 Women’s Team (Bantwana) Head Coach
Name: Simphiwe Dludlu
Age: 30
Place of Birth: Alexandra, Johannesburg
Qualified: 2018 Fifa U-17 Women’s World Cup
Previous coaching career: University of Pretoria women’s football team (2011– 2016).
Best Achievement in career: Leading Bantwana into 2018 Fifa U-17 World Cup Uruguay edition.
South Africa’s National Senior Women’s Team (Banyana Banyana) Head Coach
Name: Desiree Ellis
Age: 55
Place of Birth: Cape Town
Qualified: 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations
Previous coaching career: Spurs Ladies FC (2006 – 2016)
Best Achievement in career: Banyana Banyana winning the Caf Women’s National Team of the Year for 2017, Becoming the first South African to win the Cosafa Women’s Championship both as player (2002) and coach (2017).
South Africa’s national Under-17 men’s team (Amajimbos) head coach
Name: Molefi Ntseki
Age: 49
Place of Birth: Excelsior, Free State
Qualified: Afcon Under-17 2015 and 2015 Fifa U17 World Cup
Previous coaching career: Welkom Stars FC head coach (1998–2002); Founder & coach of Harmony Sports Academy (2002–2007); African Warriors FC head coach (2007–09); Former national under-20 & Under-23 assistant coach.
Best Achievement in career: Leading the then Vodacom League (now known as the ABC Motsepe League) side, Welkom Stars FC, to NFD promotion with less experience as head coach; reaching the final of the 2015 Africa U17 Cup of Nations; Qualifying for the 2015 Fifa U17 World Cup Chile edition.