PRETORIA – Former South African U-20 national team coach Thabo Senong
has declared the strategic development of youth coaches a fundamental
priority for the future of South African football.
Speaking at the official draw for the 2025 Engen Champ of Champs on Tuesday,
7 October, Senong stressed that consistency, collaboration, and continuous
learning are non-negotiable for coaches working with the next generation of
players.
Echoing this vision, the upcoming Engen Champ of Champs finals will feature
a dedicated Coaching Workshop for all qualified teams—a new initiative
designed to upskill grassroots coaches and align South African coaching
methods with international standards.
Senong, who will lead the technical segment of the workshop, praised the
platform. The event will bring 18 youth coaches to Pretoria, providing what
he called an “invaluable opportunity to share knowledge and unify our
national approach to developing young players.”
“Having attended some of the Engen Knockout Challenge tournaments, I’m
grateful for the opportunity they provide to identify gaps and observe
provincial talent,” Senong explained. “It highlights that we need to speak
the same language in talent development. Engen is giving us this chance to
discuss global football trends and see where the game is headed.”
He firmly linked coaching education to national success, stating, “Football
is a global game, and we have to compete with the best. To do that, we must
stay updated on the latest developments. If we invest in our youth coaches,
we will continue producing top talent, as seen with our recent youth
national teams.”
Complementing Senong’s technical workshop, former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper
Moeneeb Josephs will host a session for players on “Branding Yourself as a
Footballer” and planning for a career after retirement.
Together, these sessions underscore a holistic philosophy towards football
development, focusing on the technical mastery of the coaches and the
personal growth of the players they guide. Through this dual investment,
Engen continues to reinforce its long-standing commitment to building South
African football from the ground up.
