A total of 57 local coaches attended the Youth Technicians Lekgotla coaching workshop at the University of Venda's council chamber last Saturday.
The event, which was facilitated by Qina Sports, covered a variety of topics, including the uplifting of the standard of coaching at school and youth level and to create a coaches network that can promote knowledge sharing. The workshop also looked into the level of knowledge of coaches at school and youth level, as well as addressing the struggles coaches face on a day-to-day basis and to find solutions to closing gaps within developmental football in South Africa.
Some of the speakers at the event were Messrs Buti Lerefolo (chairperson of the Transnet School of Excellence), Helman "Midnight Express" Mkhalele (assistant coach for the national U/20 team), David Notoane (assistant coach of the SA U/20 team and Mamelodi Sundowns reserve side) and Thanduxolo Zulu (head coach of King David School).
Notoane appealed to the coaches to avoid hard training shortly before matches, saying that robbed the players of energy for the game.
According to the public relations and media officer at Qina Sports, Ms Nomonde Khanyile, the workshop is a way to level the ground for the U/18 school sports tournament that will be staged at the University of Venda later this year.