Former Bafana Bafana stand-in coach Morena Ramoreboli has opened up on how being a coach who never played football at a professional level became an advantage in disguise.
The highest level Ramoreboli played in was in the South African third-tier when it was still Vodacom League. He had a brief stint before he turned into a coach.
The Rosendal-born tactician made a name for himself when he was in charge of Maluti FET college who beat Orlando Pirates 4-1 in the Nedbank Cup. Before then, he promoted African Warriors to the second-tier.
Now, he’s currently managing Jwaneng Galaxy in Botswana where he’s made history. He led the side to their first CAF Champions League group stages in the 2021/22 season.
Ramoreboli has shared the difficulty he endured in his journey while proving that even though he may not have played the game professionally, he can make a good coach.
He says he never beheld this as a disadvantage but rather a silver lining in the dark cloud as it offered him motivation to double his efforts.
RAMOREBOLI: ‘PEOPLE BELIEVE IN COACHES THEY SAW PLAYING PROFESSIONALLY’
“It will always be difficult for you if you didn’t play professional football,” Ramoreboli said in an exclusive interview with FARPost.
“But I think it is one part that is always helping to double your efforts, knowing very well that you don’t have a name. People didn’t see you playing football.
“And the unfortunate part is people believe in those they saw playing football despite the fact that they never saw them coaching. So, they will always believe that they can make better coaches than what we can offer.
“So, it always helped me because even the courses I attended. I was attending with football legends and I learned there that I need to double my effort.
“That’s because these guys that you’re in the same class with, are known and you’re not known. You’re just this person that loves football. And you need to double your efforts so that people will recognise you.”
ADVICE TO UPCOMING COACHES
In offering advice to the former footballers who are now upcoming coaches, he stated that playing experience isn’t sufficient. Thus, they have to be ready to learn the coaching.
Meanwhile, to those that relate to his story, he said the opportunities to stand on the professional touchline are up for grabs. He added, “It doesn’t mean that if you didn’t play football, you can’t make a good coach”.
“Hard work works, and they must always understand that it doesn’t matter how good you were when you were playing football,” he added.
“If you’re not prepared to learn and empower yourself, you’re as good as nothing. And it doesn’t mean that if you don’t play football, you can’t make a good coach.
“You need to work hard and understand that this cake is too big for all of us. So, move and fight to be amongst the coaches who are competing in the elite.”
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