Fifa-appointed coach Thabo Senong lauds Engen Knockout Challenge

Engen, through their country-wide Knockout Challenge, has, for many years, provided a platform from which talented players and coaches have been able to flourish in their careers.
There have been players, coaches, and administrators, too, whose fortunes have catapulted after featuring in the tournament, which entered its 22nd year of existence in 2024.
The latest example of that is Pimville-born Thabo Senong, who is an Engen ambassador. His history with the tournament stretches back to 2010, when he served as a youth coach with Orlando Pirates.
The 44-year-old has since taken the next step in his career, being handpicked Arsene Wenger to form part of Fifa’s Technical Development Scheme.
“I’ve just joined Fifa in August as a Fifa talent coach, which is a programme that falls under the technical development scheme, which is the idea pioneered by the Chiefs of Global Development at Fifa, coach Arsene Wenger,” said Senong.
“He wants to improve countries that are struggling and close the gap between developing countries and the leading nations in football,” he added.
Senong, who will be stationed in Malawi, has given credit to Engen for the platform they have provided, not only for himself but for coaches who are currently making headway in the Premier Soccer League, as well as up-and-coming coaches who are making a name for themselves in youth football.
“We are all products of this tournament and that’s where we started. I was at Pirates under Professor [Augusto] Palacios. We won it twice,” said Senong.
“It has produced a lot of coaches. Coach Kwanele Kopo is coaching Chippa United, and he has coached in this tournament a number of times. [There is also] coach Arthur Zwane at Kaizer Chiefs, so this tournament has produced a lot of coaches, and there are more up-and-coming coaches like coach ‘DVD‘ (David Mathebula), coach Andisiwe Mcgoyi (Mamelodi Sundowns), and a whole lot of others.
“You can see that it is a well-rounded tournament that gives us experts from the administration and technical sides, not only players,” he explained.