20 August 2018 – Hearing that his childhood coach is now working towards acquiring his coaching badges pleased Cape Town City FC striker Siphelele Mthembu greatly.

And that’s because Mthembu has full confidence that coach Khulekani ‘Tyson’ Ntshangase, who just completed the theoretical part of his SAFA grassroots football Development coaching D Licence course which ended on Saturday, 18 August in Richards Bay, has more than what it takes to continue unearthing talent in a neighbourhood he grew up in.

“I grew up in the Thubalethu Township,” Mthembu says. “That’s where my playing journey began before I elevated into top flight football. I played for a team called Thubalethu FC. Coach ‘Tyson’ was my coach then. He had a massive impact in the primary stages of me playing the sport and I’ll forever be grateful for that.

“It’s good to hear that he’s now working towards his coaching badges and I say this because he’s a very talented coach. He’s a disciplinarian, too. He has this gift of getting any player he’s working with to a physical condition he wants them to be in. The knowledge he has acquired now will add to this special gift of coaching he already has. I also believe that there are more players who will turn pro, that are going to come out of his hands”

The 45-year old Ntshangase revealed that seeing Mthembu flourishing in his career played a massive part in him wanting to pursue his coaching badges. Ntshangase believes acquiring more knowledge in the coaching business will see him transform into a more knowledgeable grassroots development coach than he currently is.

“I want to continue developing players in my region. That’s why I decided to take up this coaching course in the first place. Seeing a player like Siphelele Mthembu whom I’ve coached before, having done so well for himself in all these years truly makes me happy. His success is what drives me to continue working with the youngsters.  I truly believe that there’s plenty of talent out there that’s waiting to be discovered.”

Ntshangase also added that he will stop at nothing up until he sees himself having acquired all coaching budges that are provided by SAFA.