Former South African football sensation Benedict “Tso” Vilakazi has candidly discussed the personal journey he’s undertaken in transitioning from a celebrated player to a budding coach.
The 41-year-old, renowned for his time at Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, has been steadily climbing the coaching ranks, beginning in the amateur leagues and aspiring to make a significant impact in the Premier Soccer League.
Vilakazi, recently selected as one of twelve participants in a Betway initiative for retired athletes, provided an update on his progress. He acknowledged the challenges inherent in this transition, emphasizing the need for mental fortitude and continuous learning.
“It’s not an easy thing. From where I am now to go forward, it’s a relief for me to be part of the Betway 12th man [initiative] because there are skills that, as a coach, you need,” said Vilakazi as quoted by SABC Sport.
“I always say to players, you need to be strong here in your mind, but now, as a coach, I need to equip myself so that I can help those young boys become strong in their minds.”
The Betway initiative has involved a series of seminars for the selected participants, including Vilakazi. His primary goal is to identify and nurture the next generation of football talent, ensuring they possess the mental and technical attributes needed to succeed at the highest level.
“You need to equip yourself so that you can play a role, not only being a coach, but also be a father figure, a brother, and to be a friend also,” he added.
“You’re not going to be able to do that if you’re not going to equip yourself, so I see myself in a very good space now with Betway, to help me equip myself and become ready to go back to eKasi and help the young ones develop and be better than me.
“Because my dream is to develop a player that will be better than I was as a player.”