Former Bidvest Wits and Kaizer Chiefs winger Bhongolethu Jayiya has found a new path in football, turning to coaching after a period of self-improvement following his departure from Amakhosi in 2019.
Jayiya stepped away from playing and spent three years reflecting on his career, taking online courses and considering what he wanted to do next before discovering a passion for developing young players.
His coaching journey began in 2023 at the Nike Centre in Soweto, where he initially trained alongside friends. Encouraged to put his playing experience to use, he later coached teams in township tournaments, gradually recognising the difference he could make at grassroots level.
“After Chiefs, I just sat down. I looked at my career and I focused on self-improvement. I did a few online courses to keep my mind going,” Jayiya said.
“I only started coaching three years ago. From 2020 to 2023, it was just self-improvement, trying to figure out what’s next. In those three years, something hit me. Why not start at grassroots and help them out as much as possible?”
A breakthrough came when he helped a young player from his hometown earn a place in one of the leading teams in the local township football scene. The experience strengthened his belief that coaching could create opportunities for aspiring footballers.
“What changed the most was when I helped one of these kids from my hometown to get into one of the first teams in the townships, so I thought it’s possible,” he said.
Jayiya’s move into coaching at the University of Johannesburg was also influenced by his childhood coach, Pat, who encouraged him to join the institution in 2023 and lend a hand.
The opportunity soon developed into a more active coaching role, with Pat entrusting him with training sessions.
“He was like, ‘Since I am the head coach, I am going to give you all the sessions’. I started from there. Once I started, I saw the passion is now with me helping these kids. So, I kept on going till now,” Jayiya said.
He now coaches UJ’s under-19s and has obtained a CAF D coaching licence, with plans to pursue the C licence as he continues to build his experience.
Jayiya’s long-term ambition is to establish his own academy to nurture young players from an early age. However, he is taking a measured approach, prioritising research, learning and gaining more experience before launching the project.
“I got my (CAF) D License. I am planning to get my C license. My biggest dream is to have an academy, where I can start these kids from a small,” he said.
“It’s not something I want to do right now. I am still doing research. I am still trying to get my teeth in the game and to see how far I can go and learning from people.”
For Jayiya, the transition from professional player to coach has become an opportunity to pass on his experience and help shape the next generation of South African footballers.
