Nompumelelo Ramatsoga

Our feature coach this week is one who some would say started the wave of women coaching boys/mens teams. But it does take a lot of courage to coach a bunch of testosterone filled high school boys and be a dominant force. Nompumelelo Ramatsoga has done nothing short of that. It takes an Extraordinary coach to make a successful team and Mpumi has done just that! Mpumi has been known to hold her players to a high standard and for good reason as any team to come up against her St Benedicts 1st team knew it would be a hard day in the office. A proud advocate for women’s equality, she is definitely a lady setting the standards for many young women out there.

I managed to get in touch with Mpumi earlier this week to ask some questions about her coaching career and her diverse coaching record.

Who or what motivated you to get serious about coaching?

It was really just a love for the game and the fact that I love seeing players growing and developing and I enjoy the process of helping them to develops and get better.

Have you modelled your coaching philosophies after another coach or has it been "self taught"?

It has definitely been modelled using bits and piece from a bunch of different people. When I was first starting out as a young coach my biggest influence was coach Nthato Selebi and as I have continued on my journey as a coach I have picked up a bunch of things from other coaches that have helped to shape my philosophy. Its one of those things that is always a work in progress and continues to evolve.

Favourite coaching moment?

There are so many amazing memories but it was probably the first time I got to wear the green and gold as a coach, that is definitely a special one.

A favourite team to have coached?

I have been involved with a lot of amazing teams that I have loved coaching but if I had to pick just one it would be the 2012/2013 Pretoria Elite Team.

Highest level coached?

U16 girls national team as an assistant coach/ USSA Men’s national team as an assistant coach.

biggest accomplishment as a coach?

My biggest accomplishment as a coach was being able to be on the staff of the USSA Men’s national team as a female coach. There were people who opposed it and saw my gender before my experience or accomplishments and so achieving that is huge for me because it was a win for women.