dyton mupawaenda
Sports Reporter
THE real Pep is struggling as he endures a barren run which has seen him losing SIX of his last seven games for the first time in his coaching career.
However, the Young Pep is flourishing in the United States where he has once again led by North Star FC team, a developmental side, to back-to-back league titles.
Samkeliso Paradzai Ncube is a young and ambitious Zimbabwean coach who believes he is building a profile which will one day see him making history by coaching in the top leagues of the world.
He calls himself Young Pep because his coaching career is largely influenced by Pep Guardiola.
His North Star FC team, who are also called the Naturals, have won all their nine league games to win the championship.
They have been ruthless, showing they are a class apart from the rest, scoring 51 goals, at an average of more than five goals per game, while conceding only four.
They have also scored 15 goals and conceded only one in their two games in the League Cup.
Young Pep said:
“The key to our back-to-back league title was the unwavering commitment to each other, both on and off the field.
“We always had each other’s backs, pushed each other to be better, and never took our focus off the ultimate goal, winning as a team.
“Our relentless work ethic, combined with a deep understanding of each other’s strengths, allowed the players to adapt to any situation and overcome challenges.
“I’m proud of my players because of their ability to stay focused, even during tough moments, and always believing in our ability to win was crucial to our success.
“We had a strong foundation of tactical discipline, but the real difference was the chemistry and trust I built to the team.”
He added:
“I installed a winning mentality in my players, emphasising the importance of not just individual talent, but collective effort.
“As a coach, I knew that for us to maintain the motivation and focus after winning a championship is to set a new target which we both achieve.
“Every day we worked on improvement, fostering a culture of resilience, and openly acknowledging the added pressure while encouraging the team to embrace the challenge.
“This involves clear communication, individual player development plans, and celebrating smaller achievements throughout the season to keep the momentum going.”
He is already planning for next season.
“I believe we will win the league every year. And yes, I can honestly say I have never gone into a game not believing we can win.
“Even in the most mismatched games I found a way to convince myself a game plan, a belief in a certain player, or a one-time, out-of-this-world performance will make the difference.
“Of course, all my beliefs are rooted in realism. I fully understand the realities of putting my players against another coaches’ players.
“Neither one of us controls much of the outcome in the moment. Most of our impact happens during the preparation before the game and in the quality of our rosters.
“I think a winning formula gives a coach about 40%of an influence over a soccer game. The majority, as high as 60%, relates to my players’ talent and athletic abilities.
“Another small portion is luck, injuries and other potential variables (weather, environment, travel schedule, etc).”
Online Reporter