Former Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo has revealed how the mentorship of tactical heavyweights Pitso Mosimane and Rulani Mokwena is guiding his transition from the pitch to the dugout.
The former Bafana Bafana star is in the first coaching role of his career at Mbabane Highlanders AM, a club owned by South African businesswoman Shauwn ‘MaMkhize’ Mkhize.
Khuzwayo made his name at Chiefs between 2012 and 2018 before switching to Pirates. However, his promising career was cut short due to injury, forcing him to hang up his boots at the age of 29.
Now 36, Khuzwayo has finally decided to venture into coaching, albeit beyond South Africa’s borders—a move that came as a surprise to many football fans.
Khuzwayo opened up to FARPost about the inspiration behind the early stages of his coaching journey, explaining how conversations with Mosimane and Mokwena have kept his ambition ablaze.
THE PITSO AND RULANI FACTOR: KHUZWAYO OPENS UP ON HIGH-PROFILE MENTORSHIP
“Seeing the level of football we’re playing at Mbabane Highlanders AM, it’s a good experience that I need to take and put in my pocket and learn from and grow,” Khuzwayo told FARPost.
“As any other young coach aspiring to be like Rulani Mokwena or Pitso Mosimane, I still talk to those coaches, and they help me a lot in terms of my coaching capability and learning. They inspire me, they help me a lot because starting this journey is not easy.
“I mean, in terms of football, Eswatini is a developing country. And, you know, when you’re in a developing country, you experience a lot of problems. I look at it differently – if I can fix them, that means I’m ready to coach in South Africa.”
Khuzwayo hinted at the possibility and ambition of working with clubs like AmaZulu FC in the Betway Premiership.
He added: “So, I’m really excited [about my coaching journey]. Sometimes you take a step and hesitate; I mean, I’m 36 right now. If I start now, there is a very big possibility I might join Amazulu FC – I’m good friends with them.
“Start somewhere, get experience, get the feeling of how it is, then I can come back to South Africa with some sort of experience on how to handle things emotionally and how to handle players. So, for me, it’s a good journey to start here.”
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