25 May 2016

Thaloba Nthaga has enhanced his reputation as a coach who specialises in getting teams promoted to the premier league. 

He did it again this year with Rolling Boys. 

The team gained promotion after a 4-3 aggregate victory over Ecco City Greens in the playoffs a fortnight ago.

Rolling Boys became the third team that the Radisele born gaffer led into the premier league after he achieved similar feats with Black Peril in the 2O09-2010 season and Letlapeng in 2013-2014. 

DailyNews sports caught up with Machine as Nthaga is affectionately known to supporters, to get the lowdown on his football career. 

Nthaga, who holds a Confederation of African Football (CAF) B License, stated that he has gone through Botswana Football Association coaching courses to learn his coaching skills. 

“I consider coaching as a call from God,” the 43 year old coach said.  

Machine said he was midfielder and was later converted to a prolific striker during his playing career in the 1990s. 

He said he did not play football for his school teams but only played it after school and during his spare time. 

He would later play social soccer in his village. In 1990 he was signed by Super League side Prisons XI and consequently played in the elite league. 

In 1998 he dropped down the divisions and joined Paymaster Spurs while studying at the University of Botswana. 

Township Rollers saw his talent and registered him in 1999 but he played for one season at the Gaborone west giants. 

He said work commitments forced him to quit Super League football. 

Nthaga joined Black Peril in the lower division and was appointed player-coach and helped the team survive relegation. 

But Peril was de-registered in 2003. 

The club afterwards bought the status of Liverpool FC and Nthaga took charge of the team for the 2007-2008 in the regional league structures. He guided the team to back to back promotions to the first division in 2008-2009 and the Premier League in 2009-10.  

After parting ways with Peril in 2010 he coached briefly at Young Strikers and Lesirane City before being snapped by Letlapeng and guiding the Ramotswa team to the Premier League in 2014. 

However, he parted ways with the team after a bad start to the 2014-15 season and eventually landed at Rolling Boys.

Nthaga said his best moments in football are getting three first division teams namely to the premier league. 

Nthaga said his role model is former Zebras coach Stanley Tshosane because he understands the basics and principles of football. He said his ideal assistant coach would be the person he trusts, who has passion for football and who can complement him. 

Nthaga said his philosophy is working players to their strengths. 

He said he prefers the 4-3-3, and the 4-4-2 formations. ENDS