Here's an interesting story. Before retiring from football a few years ago, Thabo September had reservations about following a career in coaching. He was, however, determined to stay in football and so once he called time on his playing days, SuperSport United, a club he served with diligence for a decade, placed him in the marketing department. Ever the shrewd negotiator, club CEO Stan Matthews cajoled him into taking up a coaching role, and today the former defender is basking in the glory of being the man that led Matsatsantsa's DStv Diski Challenge side to the 2022/23 title. The grand prize for his charges' efforts was a trip to the United Kingdom, where they played against their counterparts from Bristol City and Queens Park Rangers. In this interview, the man from Knysna speaks to Soccer Laduma's Tshepang Mailwane about what kind of coach he would like to shape up to be.
Tshepang Mailwane: Coach Thabo, it's been a while. A few years ago when we spoke, you mentioned that you did not want to be a coach after your playing days, but now you are one. What changed?
Thabo September: Ha, ha, ha, at the time, I was talking more about the stress that comes with being a coach and the patience to be working with players. I know what kind of people players are. They are difficult, so you have to manage each one as individuals. So, for that, I was like, "I am not going to grow grey hair for this thing", but because I loved football, I did not go away. I was still in the marketing space at the club and then I would contribute (in coaching), without even knowing it. Then I would start hearing Stan (Matthews, Super- Sport United CEO) saying that I should do the coaching courses. When I was in marketing, I would do coaching clinics, but I would not get convinced in terms of going into the academy or coaching in the first team. My boss (Matthews) was tired of this because I did a lot of these clinics. Then he was like, "Thabo, stop f***ing around!" He used those words. He told me that I should start, and he kept on saying, "I have a plan, I need you." I was attending sessions with Kaitano (Tembo) and he (Matthews) tried to be smart by saying I needed to cover the gap between the first team and the DDC (DStv Diski Challenge) team whenever communication got lost. So, I was like, "Okay, I can try that." I went on to do that, only to find out that I would be named as assistant coach of the DDC while I was doing this thing. Then it grew on me and I started enjoying working with the boys
TM: Interesting…
TS: Yeah, that's how it all began and now I am full-time into this coaching. I was the assistant to (Kwanele) Kopo in the DDC and then Stan also said I was the second assistant (to Tembo in the first team). So, that meant I would look after the DDC players who were coming into the first team. Then, after two years, Stan said, "Kopo is about to leave and I need you to take over." For Stan, the right person was me and I felt that there was so much weight being put on me, but because I was already used to the boys, I was like, "Let me take it." That's how I got into coaching.
TM: You are going into your third season as coach of the club's Diski Challenge side. How has the experience been?
TS: In a place like this, where you get defeats and all of that, it helps me to grow. So far, I would say I have had a lot of success in a short space of time. We came second in the DDC (in 2021/22) and then suddenly, we won it (in 2022/23). Good things came and it's been a smooth transition, but I would like to have challenges so that I know how to solve problems. Because with Kopo, they went through a lot of things where they lost a lot of games and then ended up being 15th or 16th in the DDC. You get growth out of such situations. So, I am trying to learn from all the people around me. I don't wish anything bad on myself, but sometimes the growth comes in the worst areas. I'm enjoying the space I'm in because I'm developing players for the first team and helping the academy where I can. It will sound wrong to say that I want to fail so that I can learn, but I'm open to anything for learning and growth. The coming season will be tough, and we will be tested because we will be playing with 16- and 17-year-olds. I just want to get time with them in terms of growing them to a point where they will be ready for the first team.
TM: By winning the Diski Challenge, you got an opportunity to go to the United Kingdom recently, where you lost 6-2 to Bristol City's U21s and played a 4-4 draw with Queen Park Rangers' U21s. Talk to us about that.
TS: In the first game (against Bristol), I would attribute our performance to the long traveling we had. It was heavy, so our boys got tested properly, which is something the boys will experience in the CAF (Confederation Cup) because some of them are now part of the first team. They will need to travel with the first team and travel to uncomfortable places. They did well against Bristol. As much as we lost, there were patches where we played our football and played nicely. We made it 2-2, but a lack of concentration took them to 3-2, but then we went to the break, and we shut down again. We conceded and ended up losing 6-2. In both games, I feel like we realised that things like defending set-pieces are crucial in games and goalkeepers play a big role in those parts to stop those problems, while we need to work on the heading of our centre-backs. The trip really helped us because we still have a few weeks to prepare for our first DDC game of the season. The trip showed us that we still have work to do. But I was happy with the way we played against QPR. We played way better than we did against Bristol.
TM: How did the trip to the UK help you as a coach?
TS: Number one, it's not only the coaching that's needed for you to produce. We are producing players, but I have realised that for a club to really be sustainable, you need to invest in facilities. And for me, the scouting part is something that I have learnt. I learnt more about my players as well, especially the new ones. I know that we need to work on set-pieces because it can be part of our weapon whenever we play against teams. The growth for me is in the organization. Bristol City is so organised. The time they put into coaching is incredible. They are not there for just three hours. They are there for the whole day at the academy. It's like a proper office job. So, that will help you grow. As much as I put in six hours (daily), I realise it's not enough. I need to put in more hours for me to grow.
TM: During your playing days, you worked under coaches such as Professor Ngubane, Pitso Mosimane, Gavin Hunt, Gordon Igesund, Cavin Johnson and Stuart Baxter. Are there any qualities you use from each coach in the way you do things now?
TS: Definitely. Structure-wise, I think Stuart has an impact on that, and in terms of simplifying football, I think Gavin has helped with that. In terms of relationships, Cavin has helped me in terms of how to keep the relationship with players. In terms of giving players a chance, it would be Gavin and (Felix) Emordi (from Bush Bucks). They have taught me to sometimes not look at the age but the potential of a player and give a player a chance according to their ability. With Pitso, I learnt that you have to put in the time. You won't grow in football if you do not put in the time. You must be intentional about the time you put in. Pitso always did his homework and he gave players homework. He wanted you to grow on and off the field. He was the first person to tell me to buy property. Gordon taught me things I shouldn't do. I can't be spending a lot of time on one group of players because you end up being seen as though you are separating the team. So, you have to share time with everyone. With Gordon, it's not something that's negative, but I know it's something I shouldn't do because he spent time with certain players and gave other players less time. When I was playing, that divided the team. I use all these lessons that I talk about here.
TM: Do you see yourself as someone who'll be working with youth forever or do you have other plans?
TS: I love development, big time. I would want to stay in this space, but only if it's worth it. I would like to stay five, 10 or 15 years in this space, but if it's not going to benefit me in terms of leaving the house and going to work and then I don't bring in the right money for my family… I feel like clubs don't respect youth coaches because they are not the ones coaching the first team. I've got responsibilities, so if I can't help my family in terms of those responsibilities that I have at home, then I would need to find another way to make money for the family. But if it's all good in the space of work and getting paid okay… I don't want the salaries of the coaches in the first team, but I must be comfortable to leave my house and go to England for eight days, knowing that my family is okay. I think that's my only problem with development, but I want to stay in this space of development because I am so happy. Seeing Thapelo Maseko playing for (Mamelodi) Sundowns is great and he has a great income now. He can change the lives of his family. Seeing Shandre Campbell playing in the first team… (those) are some of the things that give me joy. I'd love to stay and give kids an opportunity to change their families' lives, instead of me just wanting to win the league.
TM: You are certainly on the right track, coach. Good luck for the upcoming season in the DDC.
TS: Thank you so much, Tshepi.
