The Durban University of Technology (DUT) Football Club is proud to announce the appointment of Ziphozonke “Zipho” Dlangalala as the head coach for the upcoming Varsity Football Tournament.
With a distinguished career spanning various roles in South African football, Coach Dlangalala brings a wealth of experience, tactical acumen, and academic depth to the team.
Coach Dlangalala is not only a seasoned football tactician but also a qualified teacher and a postgraduate with an Honours degree in Sports Science (Human Movement Science). His strong educational background reinforces his coaching methodology, emphasising a scientific and holistic approach to athlete development,
performance, and well-being.
His extensive coaching journey includes serving as an assistant coach at Mamelodi Sundowns and Chippa United, as well as leading roles at Pretoria University (AmaTuks) and Royal Eagles. He has also contributed significantly to youth development through his work with the Orlando Pirates academy and the South African U-16 national team, which participated in the UEFA U16 Development Tournament in Poland in March 2023.
Notably, he headed the Mamelodi Sundowns Youth Programme that successfully revived the iconic “Bafana ba Style” approach. Under his leadership, this programme became the only youth setup in the world to achieve an 80% success rate, with 18 of the 22 players in one group graduating to professional football. Of those, at least five players progressed to the senior national teams at different times an unparalleled feat in youth football development.
Coach Dlangalala has also made his mark on the international stage, having won prestigious student competitions with South African teams. His achievements include:
• CUCSA 1998 (South Africa) and 2002 (Eswatini) champions,
• Team of the Tournament at the World Student Games in Daegu, South Korea (2003),
• FASU Runner-up in Nigeria (2004),
• Assistant Coach of the South African Olympic Team in 2020.
In July 2023, he was appointed head coach of Maritzburg United, where he was tasked with guiding the club back to the Betway Premiership. His tenure there was marked by a strong commitment to nurturing young talent and implementing a dynamic, results-driven style of play.
DUT Football Club is confident that Coach Dlangalala’s proven record in youth development, elite-level coaching, and academic excellence will significantly enhance the team’s performance in the Varsity Football tournament. His appointment underscores the university’s dedication to fostering excellence in sports and providing student-athletes with top-tier mentorship.
The club extends a warm welcome to Coach Zipho Dlangalala and looks forward to a successful campaign under his leadership.
Pictured: DUT FC Head Coach, Zipho Dlangalala.
Mncedisi Ndlovu
