Nkululeko Khwezilomso Malgas has been appointed as the new head coach of the North-West University (NWU) Soccer Institute. He brings a wealth of experience and a diverse background in football coaching and analysis to the role.
Originally from Ngqamakhwe in the Eastern Cape, Nkululeko has dedicated his career to football development and coaching. He began his journey in football as a regional technical officer for SAFA Amathole from 2003 to 2011. During this period, he also served as a full-time football coach at Walter Sisulu University.
From 2005 to 2013, he worked with University Sports South Africa (USSA) Football, where he held various roles including match analyst, assistant coach and head coach. He further honed his coaching skills with Blackburn Rovers Football Club (national first division) as an assistant coach from 2011 to 2014, and with Mthatha City Football Club (ABC Motsepe League - EC) from 2014 to 2017, where he served as head coach and technical director.
In 2018, Nkululeko expanded his expertise by working as a video and performance analyst at the University of the Free State. He later took on similar roles with TS Galaxy Football Club from 2018 to 2019 and the University of Pretoria (national first division) from 2020 to 2022. Currently, he is involved with SAFA under-20 and under-23 national teams as a video and performance analyst.
His educational background is equally impressive. Nkululeko holds a certificate in sports club development from the University of Pretoria (UP) and various coaching certificates from prestigious institutions. These include SAFA Level 1 and 2 coaching certificates, a UEFA basic license in the Netherlands, and he completed a FIFA grassroots instructor’s course.
In recognition of his contributions to football, he has received numerous accolades. He was the provincial winner of the SASUS (USSA Football) at the University of Zululand in 2005, won the SAB SAFA under-21 Championships gold medal in Mpumalanga in 2012, and led his team to victory in the SAB League Regional Champions in 2014/2015. He also earned a silver medal at the CUCSA Football in Zambia in 2014 and was part of the Nedbank Cup winning team in Durban from 2018 to 2019.
Nkululeko says the Soccer Institute had shown interest in him a few years ago. "We kept in touch. After being at UP for five years, I realised that I needed a change, and fortunately, the head coach position was still vacant."
He also comments on the potential of the institute: "Even though the Soccer Institute has seen a decline in producing players for professional clubs, it has massive potential.”
Nkululeko's appointment will bring a new level of expertise and leadership to the Soccer Institute, and his extensive experience in coaching and performance analysis will benefit the development of the soccer programme at the NWU.
Nkululeko Khwezilomso Malgas is the newly appointed head coach of the NWU Soccer Institute.
