Coaches I’ve worked with: Ted changed my life

The first professional coach I worked with was the late Ted Dumitru and he really changed my life. Looking back, I’m blown away by his ability to introduce a development product into the senior team. If you look at the number of youngsters he promoted at every club he coached, they went on to become household names. Ntsie Maphike, Abel Shongwe, Rudolf Seale, William Shongwe, Fani

Madida and myself, to mention just a few from Kaizer Chiefs. His philosophy was so amazing that each and everything we did, on and off the field, was to do with our development. We never failed because of the solid foundation and the gradual introduction into the senior team. Look at the impact all the players Ted introduced from development had in their respective teams. The transition from youth development to senior team is not easy and needs to be managed properly by all parties concerned, especially coaches. These days, a player gets promoted and six months later, he fades away. Ted’s system of developing youngsters into superstars was something to marvel at. He’d sometimes get development players to accompany the senior team so that they got the feel of the senior team. He’d also take five or so development players with and play them in the senior team friendlies. By the time you get promoted, you’re already used to the pressure, rubbing shoulders with big-name players, the system and the supporters. Just when you think you’ve arrived, because you’ve been playing consistently well, Ted would put you on the bench just so you don’t get carried away.