Zothwane urges Sekhukhune United players to exceed his career achievements

Sekhukhune United coach Papi Zothwane wants his players to use his experience as a former Premier Soccer League and Bafana Bafana footballer as motivation to build careers that go further than his own.

Zothwane played at the highest level of South African football and is now determined to pass on what he learned to a new generation, alongside other former players who have moved into coaching.

Some of the Sekhukhune United squad were not even born during Zothwane’s playing career, but he believes the more experienced members of the team can help explain the standard he reached.

His focus, however, is not on revisiting his own accomplishments. Zothwane wants his players to surpass him, Paulus, Teko and his other former team-mates by representing Bafana Bafana, supporting their families and earning opportunities abroad.

He pointed to Relebohile Mofokeng as an example of what can be achieved, while acknowledging that he and many of his contemporaries did not reach similar opportunities despite their talent.

“Unfortunately, some of them were not born when I was playing, but through the experienced players that are in the team, they always tell them what kind of player I was,” Zothwane told iDiski Times.

“I’m not a coach who speaks about themselves, but I want to help these players become better than me, Paulus, Teko and many other players that came before them.

“I want to see them playing in the national team, making a difference in their lives, taking care of their families and making it abroad. Rele [Mofokeng] has done it, but unfortunately, us, with the talent we had, we couldn’t.”

Zothwane challenges players to apply lessons

The former Premier Soccer League star believes young footballers can benefit from working with coaches who understand the demands of professional football because they have experienced them themselves.

He also stressed, though, that the players must take responsibility for turning the advice they receive at training into performances during matches.

“But it motivates them to be coached by people who played the game, who know what they are talking about. It can only motivate them because us, we can only talk, but it’s about them implementing whatever we are saying,” he added.

Zothwane admitted Sekhukhune United have not yet reached the level he expects, but said the squad had reacted positively to his approach and that progress was being made.

“So far, they have responded positively to how we want them to play. Unfortunately, we are not where we want to be, but in terms of the result, in terms of the progress, we are slowly getting there,” he concluded.

“It must be a motivation to them, to be coached by those who have played the game before.”