Betway Premiership side Siwelele FC are courting former SAFA technical director Walter Steenbok as they look to strengthen their football structure. The club is understood to be in discussions with the revered football administrator over a role at the club.
Sources close to the club indicate that Steenbok has been in ongoing engagement with Siwelele’s management in recent weeks as they explore the possibility of him taking up the strategic position.
His presence around the team has not gone unnoticed. Steenbok has been spotted attending Siwelele training sessions and yesterday’s match against Orlando Pirates, where he was taking detailed notes and making keen observations.
Siwelele are in their first season in the top flight after acquiring SuperSport United’s PSL status. The club’s leadership is understood to be eager to put a strong technical structure in place to guide recruitment, development and long-term planning.
WHAT ROLE IS STEENBOK LINKED WITH AT SIWELELE?
Steenbok is being targeted for the position of sporting director. Widely respected in South African football circles, he left SAFA almost a year ago. Steenbok had joined the association in September 2022 and left in April 2025.
During his tenure, he played a prominent role in the development of youth and women’s football, helping shape elite coaching programmes and contributing to the restructuring of national youth teams.
FROM THE PITCH TO THE PHD: THE SCHOLARLY RISE OF WALTER STEENBOK
Beyond administration, Steenbok has built a reputation as a scholar of the game. He earned a PhD in Sports Science from the University of Johannesburg, adding to a strong academic portfolio that includes a Master’s degree in sport directorship from Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom and an MBA in sports management from Real Madrid in Spain.
His doctoral research focused heavily on talent identification protocols among youth coaches in South Africa, an area that aligns closely with the responsibilities typically associated with a modern sporting director.
Born and raised in Bloemfontein in the Free State, Steenbok’s football journey began as a player with the now-defunct Basotho Tigers in the old first division. While he did not reach the highest levels as a player, he remained deeply connected to the sport. He eventually combined his passion for football with education by working as a teacher before moving into coaching and football management.
Over the years, he has also held roles within the professional game and worked with leading clubs such as Mamelodi Sundowns, building a CV that blends practical football experience with academic insight. He was a member of the team that secured three league titles with Sundowns, including the 2016 CAF Champions League victory.
At Amakhosi, he contributed to the technical leadership that narrowly missed out on the league championship and CAF Champions League, losing to Al Ahly in 2021.
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