Having studied and completed a qualification in radiography early in his professional career, Lehlohonolo Majoro appeared to have planned for life after football with a clear path into the medical field.
However, the football bug that bit Majoro during a playing career spanning nearly two decades has proven hard to shake off. Football remains his first love, and there is nothing he would rather pursue now that he has hung up his boots.
Majoro was a lethal striker in his heyday. His natural talent earned him a spot in an elite group of players who have represented both Soweto giants, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, after launching his professional career at KZN giants AmaZulu.
The 40-year-old has since transitioned into ambassadorial roles for both the Betway Premiership and the MTN8. However, his core focus is now on giving back to youth and professional players. He launched the Major Elite Soccer Strikers Academy (MESSA) to address South Africa’s recurring goalscoring shortage by developing elite finishers.
Recognising that playing experience alone is not enough, Majoro began studying toward his CAF coaching badges. While these qualifications will make him a fully certified coach, Majoro wants to become a specialist – just not in radiography for now.
“Studying is my thing,” he exclusively told IOL Sport. “I always enjoy equipping myself with knowledge. Yes, I am a radiographer by profession, and I even started a radiography business during my playing days, but things didn’t go according to plan.
A specialist gap in South African football
“I believe football is my passion – a true calling. You must always pursue what you love, because then it never feels like work. I will be a qualified coach once I complete my diploma, but I want to specialise in coaching strikers.
“If we as South Africans can rebuild our relationship with the goalposts, we will start being more clinical and winning more games.”
Having fallen just short of 100 PSL goals during his career, Majoro navigated numerous challenges, including an environment where strikers rarely received the specialised attention given to positions like goalkeepers. That is something he is determined to change.
“I am completely dedicated to strikers,” Majoro said. “Head coaches usually don’t have time to focus exclusively on strikers because they are busy preparing tactical plans for the upcoming match and analysing opponents.
What MESSA offers players
“The reason I opened MESSA was to give professional footballers a dedicated platform to sharpen their skills. It helps immensely. I’ve seen it with Mduduzi Shabalala of Kaizer Chiefs. He has natural technique – he just needed familiarity with the ball and greater confidence.”
The lessons Majoro learned in both medicine and football share striking similarities, and he hopes to bridge the two disciplines to become a top-tier finishing coach.
“Radiography requires discipline, and so does football,” Majoro explained. “In health care, everything demands that you be observant and careful because it’s a controlled, clinical space. You are dealing with injuries and people, so you must follow precise procedures.
“In football, especially with striking, you need to understand your environment, the players you are working with, and the specific requirements for different groups. At the end of the day, the goalposts never move – only the goalkeeper does. Mastering the technique is what matters most.”
