On Monday night, Play Soccer brought their special programme designed to aid coaches in becoming more than just football coaches. The programme is an interactive one, with coaches sharing their experiences of working with kids and the advantages and difficulties thereof.

The 16 teams participating in the Engen KO Challenge sent their coaches, together with about 10 representatives/coaches from host club Santos FC, attended the workshop at the santos FC academy on Monday night. It was fruitful exercise and a huge success.

In attendance also was Santos FC head coach David Bright, who shared some of his vast experience with the amateur coaches, as well as Bafana Bafana assistant coach Pitso Mosimane, who is an integral part of the Play Soccer initiative.

The programme is geared towards coaches being role models and inspiring young footballers on the right path and away from the temptations of the modern world. Coaches should be father figures who advise young players with regard to racism, violence, gender equality and so forth.

And the Play Soccer representatives certainly enthused over the reception they got at Santos FC.

“We would like to thank you for the great reception you gave us at your club,” said Cameron Cox, the programme manager for Play Soccer South Africa.

“Everything was well organised and the participation of the coaches was fantastic. We hope that the workshop was useful to you and the coaches. We trust that the coaches will go out and share what they have learnt.”