Modiko: This Is A Big Achievement

By Malose Wa Ga Lamola

Nthabeleng Modiko, a nominee for Hollywoodbets Super League coach of the year, talks to ShakingInk about being named one of the league's best mentors, what she expects from the Orange Army this season, and how Matshidiso Masebe won the best goalkeeper award at the end-of-season awards ceremony on Monday night at Vodaworld in Midrand.

Being one of the top managers in the Hollywoodbets Super League makes Dunga, as Modiko is known in football circles, delighted. She claims that simply being nominated is an accomplishment. Modiko is pleased that her efforts were acknowledged in 2024, even if she lost the prize to Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies coach Jerry Tshabalala, who won the league.

"Just getting recognition for the coach of the season award on it's own it's a great feat and a huge recognition for me, because it is the first time, that I am getting such a recognition. I think we had a great season at University of Johannesburg. I need to give a great acknowledgement to the panel that throw my name in the hat alongside two giants in coach Thinasonke Mbuli and coach Jerry Tshabalala, and I'm really excited and grateful for it." Said Modiko.

The University of Johannesburg was projected to be one of the front runners to launch a challenge to Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies and perhaps replace them as local champions. The Kroonstad-born mentor thinks on the shortcomings of last season and aims to fix them in the forthcoming season. The former Banyana Banyana defender believes her team is ready to contend for awards the next season.

"Each individual possesses distinct expectations regarding their respective teams or the teams they support. The transition from finishing ninth in the previous season to now being recognized as a contender against Mamelodi Sundowns signifies substantial progress. I do not believe our performance was subpar; rather, we excelled in achieving results and securing victories this season. In terms of expectations, we established specific targets and objectives, which we have significantly exceeded. I must extend considerable commendation to the technical team, support staff, and players. Like I said earlier, it is a joint effort. We want to improve, to get better, we dropped a number of points  in specific matches where we made certain blunders that cost us dearly. Some did impede our advancement. We are currently getting ready for the forthcoming season."

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Due to her exploits during the previous season, Matshidiso Masebe, the goalie at the University of Johannesburg, was crowned the league's best goalie. According to an old proverb, like defenders, goalkeepers win titles, but attackers win games. Without challenging the defense's compactness at the back, "Dunga" praises Masebe and says her goalie deserves praise.

"It was a collaborative effort that her and her defenders were able to work with, and that is what we always emphasize, that we are a team that work well with each other and for each other. The defenders as well as Masebe they made a great work in making sure that, all the other teams don't breach us, and you could see the way they were working that the defenders could rely on her and she could rely on them. Individually she could make tremendous saves and she truly became our last line of defence. And I'm truly happy for her. Not only her because also Yolanda Nduli who is much central to that defence, she pairs with Angela Monase, with Masebe to form part of our defensive triangle. Seeing Masebe being named goalkeeper of the season and Ntuli as a defender being nominated for player of the season only shows the hard work and dedication that we've put in as University of Johannesburg." Concluded Supersport analyst.

@Lamola_Herold