It is said one must leave the stage while the clapping from the crowd is still the loudest, exactly the same South Africa U-20 coach Thabo Senong has decided to do after inspiring his side to successfully defend their Mopani Copper Mine Cosafa Youth Championship title on Thursday.
Amajita beat Zimbabwe 4-3 on post match penalties after playing to a 1-1 stalemate in regulation time at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe.
Senong won the Championship at the same venue last year – months after leading Amajita to third position at the 2017 U-20 Africa Cup of the nations in Lusaka.
Speaking in a post match interview on Thursday, Senong who was in his element said this year’s edition was his last Cosafa Cup tournament, adding that he needed to graduate from being a developmental to a performing coach.
He said that he was developing his assistant coach who was to carry on the torch.
“I think this was my last tournament Cosafa U-20. I think it’s time for me to look for other challenges,” he said.
“I’m developing a very quality coach, my assistant Helman Nkelele, because I’m looking forward to look for other challenges.
“I have done this for past 3 years, we’ve always been to the finals, we’ve been always to the AFCONs, we went to the World Cup and again we are on the verge of going to another World Cup and we are in the AFCON.
“I think maybe it’s my graduation time from being a development to a performing coach.
“But it’s always about getting opportunities, always about getting offers. If I get an opportunity at performing level i will get the challenge and if I don’t get I will continue developing the players.”
And Senong denied Amajita were just too good for the region of Cosafa having defended their title back to back. He said that Southern Africa football is making some strides, mentioning Zambia and Zimbabwe as countries that are working hard in grassroot football.
Meanwhile Senong thanked the Zambian people, sponsors Mopani and the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) for staging a successful showpiece.
“Thank you to FAZ, Thank you to Mopani, all the sponsors and the Zambian people for again hosting successful a Cosafa U-20 tournament,” he said.
Congratulations to my brothers and sisters in Mzansi. As for my country its “Cry my beloved Country” we going back to the drawing board. HA,ha,ha….
We lucking leadership at ou Football House. The less i say about the Coach the better. So much talent in the U20’s but the guy can’t deliver and next year he will be back and he will flop. No action at Football House.
That’s the point right there
The problem is kamanga
As long as he is head of FA we will continue to be a laughingstock