Everyone knows that the first step in building a house is to make sure the foundation is solid.
Therefore, it is impossible not to be excited about the appointment of Kwanele Kopo as the new head coach of the AmaTuks soccer team. As a coach, he does not believe in fast-tracking goals. Definitely don't expect him to make wild predictions about winning big at first. As a coach, Kopo abides by the simple principle, "We must win in life to win in football".
Ask to elaborate on what he means, he answered, "I see my role as a coach as the same as that of a father. Teaching football while simultaneously guiding players in other aspects of life. I focus on the holistic development of the person and the player.
"The guidelines for being a successful coach are humility, being a servant, a student, and a teacher of football. Putting others' growth ahead of your own.
"My immediate goal as AmaTuks' coach is to get the team not only to be competitive but also to play attractive football. But I am under no illusions. Changing the team's playing style and ensuring the team becomes competitive will be a challenge at first. But with support and patience, we will prosper.
'The ultimate goal is to get the team to compete in the Betway Premiership and to develop the AmaTuks Youth Programme and Varsity team to be the best in South Africa. It is doable as the infrastructure, expertise and support services at AmaTuks are second to none in South Africa."
When asked who influenced his thinking about how the game of soccer should be played, Kopo answers as follows, "Coaches Pitso Mosimane and Gavin Hunt, both of whom I have worked with, are my role models. They are hard workers and serial winners, and I have learnt a great deal from them."
It is not surprising that Kopo is passionate about sport.
"My father was a rugby coach, and my eldest brother played football. At home, we had a huge yard, and my eldest brother's friends would often come and play soccer in our yard. That's when I started playing and fell in love with the game. The first club I played for was Try More FC in Langa, Eastern Cape. I played against older kids, and I returned home bloodied after my first game."
"When I completed matric, I went to study at Wits University. At the time, I was an intelligent central midfielder with good ball retention. My passes were also hardly ever intercepted.
"The university coaches deemed me physically too small to play in the central midfield. I changed to play at right wing, where I had good speed and a knack for scoring goals. While I was progressing very well, I unfortunately got injured and had to retire.
"But I was not going to quit on football. I initially decided to work in football as an administrator. Later, I began coaching. I started shadowing my Wits FC Reserves team coach, John Lathan, to gain more knowledge. From there, I went on to start coaching our university residence ladies' team, and I've grown from that point."
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