Molefi Ntseki age, teams, football career, fired, record, profiles
Molefi Ntseki would best be described as a daring force who believed in himself. He is a seed that believed in football and took the most challenging and feared route, only for him to become a national figure. His biography breaks into bits how his story turned out.
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Molefi Ntseki is topping the headlines after he was axed as the Bafana Bafana coach after a disappointing loss in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Even though the move was precedented, most people do not know how he earned the spot. His story is one of a kind, and you might want to grab your cup of coffee as you read on.
Molefi Ntseki profile
- Full name: Molefi Ntseki
- Date of birth: 18th of August 1969
- Molefi Ntseki age: 51 years old
- Place of birth: Botshabelo, Free State Province
- Nationality: South African
- Profession: Football coach
Molefi Ntseki biography
Molefi is a professional teacher. Between 1988 and 1998, he focused on his teaching career before opting to focus on his career as a coach. Over the years, he has risen to become a coveted asset in the South African soccer space.
Molefi Ntseki age
Where was Molefi Ntseki born? He was born on the 18th of August 1969 in Botshabelo in Free State Province. Therefore, as of April 2021, he is fifty-one years old, although he looks younger.
Molefi Ntseki football career
Which team did Molefi Ntseki play for? During the early years of his football career, Ntseki played for Unisaints and later joined Welkom Stars. At the time, Unisaints and Welkom Stars were the best teams in the lower division of Free State province.
After a year of playing for Molefi Ntseki previous teams, he resigned to start a football academy, a dream that looked so far-fetched. However, his efforts turned the dream into fruition, and up until 2007, he was in charge of Harmony Sports Academy.
Molefi Ntseki teams
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In 2007, coach Molefi Ntseki received an offer to be the head coach of African Warriors in QwaQwa. By then, the African Warriors were campaigning in the National First Division. He worked with the team up until 2009.
In 2009, he got another offer to be Serame Letsoaka's assistant. At the time, Serame was the coach of the South African under 20 team. Months later, he landed an opportunity to be Shakes Mashaba's assistant, the head coach of the SA under 23 team at the time.
The SA under 17 team
Between 2010 and 2014, he worked with Bloemfontein Celtic as the team's assistant coach. In 2014, he was appointed as the head coach of the SA under 17 team, and in 2015, he led the team to the Fifa World Cup in Chile.
Under his leadership, the SA under 17 team qualified for the 2015 AFCON tournament, where they were the first runners up. In 2016 and 2018, he led the team to the Cosafa Cup finals, although they lost the two matches.
Bafana Bafana team
In 2018, Ntseki was elevated to the assistant coaching position for the Bafana Bafana team under Thabo Senong and Baxter. In 2019, he was Baxter's right-hand man, and together, they led the team to AFCON 2019 finals, and Bafana Bafana made it to the quarter-finals.
Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki
On 31st August 2019, Molefi's dream was fulfilled when he was appointed as the Bafana Bafana new coach. The South African Football Association announced his appointment on its website, and Molefi took over from Baxter, who had resigned a month prior.
Molefi Ntseki record
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Molefi Ntseki playing days had a rudimental role in his career in football. He gained more confidence in the game, and it paid him off by earning some of the most-admired positions. He equally set a mark that has cemented his name in the country's football scene.
In 2015, he led the South African Under 17 team to the Fifa World Cup in Chile. That same year, he helped the SA under 17 team bag the second position in the 2015 AFCON tournament. In 2016 and 2018, he led the SA under 17 team to the Cosafa Cup finals.
Molefi led the Bafana Bafana to the AFCON qualifiers in 2021. However, Molefi Ntseki Bafana Bafana squad lost to Sudan.
Molefi Ntseki fired
31st March 2021 marked the end of the road for Molefi as Bafana Bafana head coach. The move came after he had been in charge of nine games. His efforts to lead the team through the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers failed to bear fruit.
Bafana Bafana suffered a 2-0 loss to Sudan on the 28th March 2021 match, where they needed to draw to secure their spot in Cameroon. The poor display left South Africa embarrassed after failing to qualify for the coveted cup for the fourth time in the last seven editions.
After a meeting held on the 30th March 2021, it is alleged that things went sour for the coach, and he refused to resign from his position. The move prompted SAFA officials to take stern actions and terminate his contract.
Was it a messy termination?
According to allegations, SAFA officials and Ntseki did not see eye to eye during the Tuesday meeting. The tensed atmosphere is claimed to have contributed to his sacking on Wednesday. However, Tebogo Motlanthe, SAFA CEO, and Jack Maluleka distanced themselves from the claims stating that they were not part of the meeting that led to the sacking.
Tebogo Motlanthe insisted there was no problem with the organisation that could have led to Molefi's sacking. He went ahead to clear the air by saying that the committee had voted, culminating in Ntseki's axing.
The coach made his situation complicated when he openly admitted to having failed as a coach during the post-match interview on Sunday.
Molefi Ntseki salary
In 2020, the South African Football Association proposed 15% pay cuts across all divisions to salvage its financial status. By doing so, SAFA predicted saving at least R20 million, and the move would help prevent its bankruptcy. Molefi was among those who would be affected by the directive.
Even though some of the employees opposed the directive, the SAFA head of communication stated that those opposing the move risked retrenchment.
Molefi Ntseki news
Despite the disheartening news about his sacking, there could be a light at the end of the tunnel. There have been speculations about his new opportunity as the South African under 20 coach. The claims have not yet been confirmed.
Most people knew Molefi Ntseki when he became the coach of the national team. They did not know much about Molefi Ntseki coaching history. His biography is proof that it took him time, effort and risks to built his career.
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