TZANEEN – Raymond Mdaka, hailing from Nkowankowa near Tzaneen, has achieved a remarkable milestone by guiding the South African u/20 soccer team to victory in the Total Energies CAF Confederation Cup in Mozambique. The team secured the trophy after defeating Zambia 2-0 in the finals held in Matola last month.
Under Mdaka’s leadership, the team showcased an exceptional performance, scoring 16 goals without conceding any.
Mdaka believes this triumph signals a promising future for soccer in South Africa.
“The win gives hope for the future of soccer in the country. It shows progress when development teams succeed,” he remarked.
Born and raised in Mokgwathi village in Bolobedu, Mdaka was the sixth of nine children. His passion for soccer ignited at a young age, playing for amateur teams in his community.
After completing his high school education at Gwambeni High School in Xihoko, Mdaka pursued a teaching degree at the Giyani College of Education, where he graduated as a teacher.
Despite his dedication to teaching, Mdaka’s love for soccer never waned.
He remained actively involved in soccer programmes and qualified as an assessor, moderator, and facilitator.
Eventually, he decided to resign from teaching to fully devote himself to soccer. “To me, it did not seem as if I was entirely resigning from teaching, as my roles in soccer included teaching and training. Many judged me for it, but my family supported me,” he said.
Mdaka’s coaching career has been illustrious, including roles with the technical coaching teams of Pillars and Dynamos football clubs and serving as the head coach of Marumo Gallants in the Premier League.
He aspires to leave a lasting legacy by enhancing the quality of soccer in South Africa and building successful careers for his players.
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