Coach Winston already spinning his Magic (and developing) players at his new club

By now everyone knows that the former head coach of Spurs Ladies, the passionate Winston Zeederberg, has changed his colours and allegiance and is now ready to spin his magic at the Magic Ladies going forward

But what many aren’t aware of and privy to, is what ambitions the dedicated mentor has set out for him at his new club.

“We sat down and I heard their vision and their vision is all about developing the women’s game to the next level,” Zeederberg told No Bones with Jones. “My personal thing is I am very much about the development of the game as my feeling is too few players are coming through the ranks and especially here in Cape Town.

“So, when I sat down with the owners of Magic I picked up that they share the same sentiments as me and I was very excited to hear that development is high on their agenda. Also getting more players into a structure and getting more players to come to training sessions almost like the males, you know.

“Here at The Magic they are currently four times a week on the training ground and that is besides matchdays. So, that allows you to do so much more with this type of structure. Also, it will be ideal to get players out of the environment where they come from, change their mindset and create an environment where football can go to the next level.

“My whole objective here at The Magic is to bring development through with the players that we have and those players that want to join and to take them to the next level. I want to make, not only the Magic, but the whole of Cape Town as the hub for (women’s) football. We will shout so loud so that we don’t need to fight with people and ask why don’t you use our players, you know – they must then be ashamed if they don’t select our players

“I have learnt this from the legend (Xolile) Madikane, aka ‘Mr. Development’, over the years by blooding them young, you know – roping the laaities in from nine, 10 years old and that is my ultimate dream here at The Magic to have under-10,-12,-14,-16 teams where we can build a proper football club. So, that is my aim to get girls that early to join up so that you walk the road with them and see their growth and development happening,” he added. 

Zeederberg, who holds a Caf C-licence, has been involved with the women’s game for a number of years and is very familiar with the local football landscape. It is no wonder that he was ‘poached’ by the boss and former Bafana Bafana striker George Dearnaley and his magicians to help take the club, which is based at De Mist in Rondebosch, to the next level.

Zeederberg showed his worth when he led the LFA side to success in the recent Super Cup.
But the 39-year-old Bonteheuwel-born admitted that it was a very emotional farewell from his beloved Spurs where he spent nine seasons, coaching the Sasol League outfit and reached three Coke Cup finals, one Engen final and was crowned as the Sasol League Stream winners in 2022.

He felt that it was important to have the blessing from his former club and to part ways on a good wicket. 

“Spurs will always have a special spot in my heart. They gave me an opportunity years back and we always had a great working relationship,” he further added. “My love for the game is big and coaching is a big part of it but my working hours increased which made training sessions with Spurs more challenging as I have young players and to transport them at night which was a problem.

“Their training started at 17:00 which clashed with my schedule and I could no longer make it in time. Therefore I had to be fair to myself and the players and I decided to step down as head coach. But I wasn’t going to give up coaching. 

“Word traveled and the Magic somehow got a sniff and offered me an opportunity which was suitable for me – and I grabbed it with both hands. I still could practice what I love which is coaching and developing players as that to me is key.

“Luckily for me Spurs understood my circumstances and gave their blessing and I’m forever grateful to them but a new chapter in my coaching career has started and I’m excited about it,” Zeederberg concluded.