Former Mamelodi Sundowns defender Wayne Arendse has embarked on a coaching career and has revealed whether he’s ready to embrace top-flight opportunities.
Arendse, a former centre-back won several trophies with the Tshwane giants and was part of the team that clinched the CAF Champions League title in 2016 with then coach Pitso Mosimane.
He parted ways with the Brazilians in 2020 and thereafter, struggled to get a new club before he took up a new path, coaching.
The Cape Town-born is currently mentoring Highlands Park under 19 in the junior leagues in Gauteng.
The 38-year-old recently completed a CAF C Licence coaching course along with some notable names like Happy Jele, Bernard Parker, Vincent Kobola, Musa Nyatama and Morgan Mammila.
Speaking with FARPost, Arendse said he’s not yet ready to take up a head coach role in the top flight but would rather grab an assistant coach or co-coach position if it comes his way.
ARENDSE ‘NOT READY’ FOR TOP-FLIGHT HEAD COACHING
“No, I wouldn’t be ready [to head coach in the top flight] but I wouldn’t mind being a part of the set up probably as an assistant coach,” he told FARPost.
“I think you need to go through the levels, you need to sip behind the scenes and absorb everything because you learn every game.
“You will learn continuously, so if I get an opportunity to be someone’s assistant or a co-coach then I’ll probably take it.”
Arendse says he had to undergo a coaching course in order to behold the game from a coach’s perspective.
He felt that his experience as a footballer wouldn’t be enough to carry him through his coaching journey.
ARENDSE ON COMPLETING CAF C LICENCE
“There were a lot of guys there, familiar faces with some PSL coaches, so it was a good experience,” he added.
“We went through the different phases of the licence and I’ve also done the D licence already.
“I told myself, it’s no use to having played at the highest level, in the Champions League and all that. You still have to get the qualifications behind your name.
“It’s always good to learn, football evolves and you have to keep up with it.
“You have to learn new things, new laws of the game, so ja it was a good experience for me.”
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