DYNAMOS FC’s head coach, Albert Mbuyiseli Mdabe, has said that one can realise one’s dreams if one works very hard.
Mdabe, popularly known as Mberembe, said that he started kicking a soccer ball at a young age at Dynamos FC, based at Seyisi in Kwazakhele, during the 1980s. His family, especially his elder brother, who was one of Dynamos FC’s star players, guided and encouraged him to play football.
Mdabe said that he remembered when Dynamos FC juniors coach, Boyce Ngxokwana, guided them to win the Chappies Little League Tournament. “Ngxokwana was like our parent and he sacrificed a lot for the sake of developing grass roots sport. I worked very hard because I had a vision in life. Anyone who works hard, will realise their dreams,” he said.
He stated that his highlight was when he guided the Dynamos FC u-19 team to win the Hasties Sports Shop u-19 tournament in the late 1990s.
He also played for Dynamos FC in the Caltex u-19 National Tournament and in the Toyota u-21 National Tournament. He was also selected to play for the regional junior teams in SAFA Eastern Cape tournaments.
Mdabe said, “I remember when I was a learner at Inkqubela Primary School that our soccer coach teacher, Vumile Madikane, gave me a chance to showcase my talent in the senior team. We were playing against Itamsanqa High School and my coach told me that I should play my heart out.
“Our school won that game after I banged in two goals. I was then selected by our coach to play for the first team was that I worked very hard.”
He was promoted to Dynamos FC senior team in 1998 and his debut was against Young Romans FC, whom they beat at the Zwide Stadium.
He guided Dynamos FC to win a number of league titles and knockout competitions. He started coaching in 2001 with the Eastern Cape junior team that participated in the Coca-Cola Competition in Durban.
Mdabe holds a CAF B-Licence and has completed many coaching, playing and youth development courses.
As a coach, he led Dynamos to win the ZAFA Premier League in 2005 and coached Nelson Mandela Bay Football Academy in 2005. He also coached ABC Motsepe League sides: Knysna Bafana, Angavu Stars, Bay Academy, Lion City and EC Bees.
He said, “Coaching Lion City FC was another highlight of my life. Lion City produced many stars.
“Discipline, listening and training very hard are one of the good recipes for the players,” said Mdabe.
