SEDIBENG.- Former professional soccer player Papi Zothwane (pictured) is joining the ranks of talented ex-professional players destined to successfully enter the coaching world.
Zothwane, a former Mamelodi Sundowns and Golden Arrows midfielder, is the head coach of Glad-Africa Championships club Unthongathi FC based in Thongathi, Kwa-Zulu Natal. The club has fast become a favourite amongst the GladAfrica Championships clubs to challenge for the league title or at least qualify for the national play-offs to get promoted to the DStv Premier Soccer League at the end of the season. Uthongathi FC had an impressive start in the league before they lost against the top of the table Platinum City Rovers FC in a midweek league match recently.
If their current performance is anything to go by, there is no doubt that Uthongathi FC will finish among the top teams at the end of the season.
They started the season like a house on fire winning their opening games before they suffered a 1-0 defeat over Rovers. They are 7th on the log with 9 points after they played six games. Zothwane started his amateur football career with the now defunct Boipatong Real Rangers FC.
He was part of the Rangers generation that made history when the club qualified for the Bob-Save Last 16. He has played amongst others, alongside local professional players such as Lungisane Ndhlela, Solomon Mathe and Senzo Mbatha (formerly Mazingisa) who went on to make a name for themselves in South African football. This former Bafana-Bafana midfielder’s impressive coaching career started with the Golden Arrows MDC team and his potential was spotted by Uthongathi FC management to lead their club to glory. He has done exceptionally well since he took over, with the club playing exciting football.
Zothwane said that his ambition is to lead the club to the DStv PSL and he has confidence in his players to carry the mandate. He believes that the current players are hungry for success and that they are fighting for each other in the field of play.
“It is everyone’s ambition in the team to play in the PSL in the new season and we are working very hard to make this happen with the support of the management. I enjoy each and every moment here with the support I get from management,” said Zothwane.
* Uthongathi’s next GladAfrica Championships game is against Venda FC on Saturday.
