How to coach the ladies with “Coolio”

Profile by : Robert Mabusela

Tebogo "Coolio" Mokae is the coach of TUT`s women football team, Mokae`s uses his passion for the game on the side line. He shares his passion through a group of young talented female soccer players of the Tshwane University of Technology. Mokae grew up in Carletonville Johannesburg and started coaching in 2008

Questions: Off the field what do you do on a daily basiss
Answer: “Work, watch football, spend time with my players, and watch movies.”

Q: Have you ever coached a men’s team, if yes how different is it from working with a women’s team?
A: “Yes, I was the assistant coach of TUT male team, women need more patience,”

Q: How are women soccer players treated different from men?
A: “We are the same, they all want to be treated special, and they will produce result,”

Q: What are some of the challenges you face as a coach, and particularly coaching a women`s team?
A: “Their performance is not constant due to their monthly cycle and that is a serious challenge coz they don’t all go at the same time.”

Q: Have you coached any prominent players?
A: “Yes, I have and currently I am coaching some of them (Mary Ntsweng and Emily Mogoatlhe- Banyana Banyana, Tshepiso letsela- SA u/20, and more).”

Q: What would you like your team to achieve this season?
A: “We want to qualify for club championships that will be held in Cape Town in December and win them (USSA), and we also want to the Gauteng Champs, currently we in 1st position.”

Q: Where would you like to see TUT women’s football go to?
A: “I want to see them being 1 of the best women team in the country, i want to at least more than 3 players in the Banyana Banyana set up, lastly I want to see them lifting the Sasol National championship trophy.”

Q: What is your most memorable moment as a coach?
A: “When the team won the ABSA regional league and gained promotion to play in Sasol provincial league which is the highest league in the country.”

Q: Judging from Banyana Banyana`s current performance, how do you think they`ll perform in the upcoming Olympics?
A: “I really want them to do well, but we must remember that it is the first time they qualify for a major tournament so experience will also play a major role, but who knows they can perform miracles and win them."