DOUBLE DUTY

National Under-23 coach David Notoane is a busy man as he takes on dual roles in the game.

- By Mogamad Allie

Holding down one full-time coaching job is hard work, but what about adding the coaching duties of a national junior team as well?

That is exactly the load that former: Santos and SuperSport United striker David Notoane has been shouldering since his appointment as part-time coach of the national Under-23 team in February 2019.

The 53-year-old, who works as Senior Youth Coach: Technical Co-Ordinator at Mamelodi Sundowns, has been on the coaching staff of the 12-times PSL champions since 2016, when he started out as coach of the reserve team.

With Masandawana, Notoane's current job entails overseeing the technical programme of the club's Diski Challenge and ABC Motsepe League teams, as well as working on a transition programme to facilitate the smooth progression of players from the junior teams to the club's senior ranks.

"It's highly demanding working with the national team and also working for a big brand like Sundowns, which brings with it a lot of its own demands and pressure," Notoane tells SoccerClub.

"It means I spend a lot of time on football. In the mornings, I'm with the first team; in the afternoons, I'm with the junior teams. In addition to that, I have to be in meetings.