UNITED Brothers FC chairperson and head coach, Luyanda Ncwadi, has made a name for himself in football circles.
Before he started as a football coach, Ncwadi played at junior level as a centre back and a midfielder from 1990 to 1996 for City Heroes FC in the MOFA League, City Guys FC of KwaMagxaki in the PEFA League and for Crystal City of KwaMagxaki in the NAFA League.
Then he played for Young Bucks FC in the PEEFA League from 1997 to 2002 and then in 2002, he played for UFA League side Young Callies, who campaigned in the SAFA Nelson Mandela SAB Regional League.
Ncwadi’s coaching experience speaks volumes about him. As a coach who wants to grow as an individual, Ncwadi completed an introductory coaching course in 2005. He completed a coaching- skills programme at Exercise Teachers’ Academy in 2007.
Ncwadi saw that it was necessary to study towards a SAFA Level One Coaching Certificate, which he completed in 2009.
In 2002-2003, in the PEEFA First Division, he helped coach Brothers to win promotion.
Ncwadi was then elected as United Brothers FC’s head coach and guided his side to play in the premier league. He has coached his KwaMagxaki side, United Brothers, since 2003.
During the SAFA NMB ILFA tournaments, he was the head coach of the PEEFA squad in 2005, 2007 and 2008. He coached Madibaz’ Premier League side in the USSA League and in the PEFA Premier League from 2010 to 2011.
He also made huge a difference when he coached Madibaz in the first division in 2009.
He revealed that he also assisted the East London side, Future Tigers, during 2010-2011 Nedbank Cup and Tigers qualified to play in the national last 32.
Ncwadi also assisted PEFA side, Ace Mates FC, as a co-coach in PEFA League in 2012.
From 2007 to 2014 he mentored United Brothers FC in PEFA League.
Ncwadi also made a name for himself as a technical officer in football. Under Ncwadi’s mentorship, United Brothers juniors and seniors won many trophies. Some of Ncwadi’s highlights are that he guided Brothers u13 and u15 teams to win PEFA KO Cups in 2005 while his u17s won the PEFA KO Cup in 2014. His senior side became 2018/2019 PEEFA Premier League champions.
According to Ncwadi, his best memories are when he guided Madibaz to win the USSA National Soccer Club Championships in 2011.
Ncwadi served the SAFA NMB Coaches Association as a general secretary from 2010 to 2016.
He was an SAFA NMB technical development officer from 2014 to 2017. Ncwadi has been the PEEFA general secretary since 2006 and still holds the position.
