It is said a picture is worth a thousand words. It is undoubtedly true in the case of Tlisane Motaung the newly appointed coach of the AmaTuks football team. 

In every photo ever taken of Motaung during a game, his passion for football is noticeable.  You will see him gesturing wildly as if trying to get a player to stick to the plan. One arm raised in triumph with the fist clenched moments after a goal is scored. 

There are also moments of frustration. Motaung bend forward averting his eyes from the game for a brief moment as if he can't believe as what he just witnessed. 

The one photo that is not yet taken is one of Motaung sitting with a vague expression next to the sidelines as if he does not care. Those knowing him will tell you there will never be such a photo. Motaung is too passionate about the game. When he gets up in the morning, it is to make a difference. 

That is why he is already talking what should be done to get AmaTuks to win the GladAfrica Championship. The ultimate goal is to help the team to play in the Premier League again. Like the team did in the 2012-2013 season.

Motaung is a realist knowing it is not going to happen in one season. Things have not been going well for a while now. In the season that has just ended AmaTuks finished 8th on the log standings winning only nine of their 30 games while losing ten matches. The statistic of scoring 37 goals and conceding 39 is equally disconcerting. 

"I am not going to change too much from what the previous coach did. I do intend, however, to bring in a more attacking style of play as want AmaTuks to be more dominant. But it should not be at cost to our defensive play. The team conceded far too many foals during the past season. We need to find ways to rectify it. 

"I have learned in the time that I had been the assistant coach that at AmaTuks, we are spoiled. We have some of the best facilities in the country. It makes sticking to a gameplan easy when playing at home. With away games, things tend to get unpredictable. The players will have to learn to adapt to whatever conditions they are facing. 

"Complacency is also something I want to address. There were times during the past season that AmaTuks played brilliant football, but after a while, it seemed as if the players started to lose focus. We can't afford that. Any team is only as good as the last game they played.

"Lastly, the players should realise that AmaTuks we never wanted for anything. The University of Pretoria really looks after our needs. We need to reward their continuous support with constant good play."

Motaung boasts with the unique distinction of possibly being the first AmaTuks coach to have genuinely come through the ranks. 

"I am who I am today due to the support and guidance I have received from the decision-makers of TuksFootball and the University of Pretoria.

"I started playing for them in 2004. From 2005 to 2009, I was captain of the team. Definite highlights were winning the USSA Football Tournaments on two occasions.

"The big turnaround in my football career happened in 2010. Somehow I got poisoned ending up spending two weeks in a hospital intensive care unit. I thought I was going to die. TuksFootball supported me through this whole ordeal, and I am forever grateful for it.

"I tried to make a comeback, but it was to no avail. My mind was willing, but not the body. Still, TuksFootball was not prepared to give up on me. They encouraged me to stay involved as an assistant team manager. The biggest surprise came about when they asked me to consider coaching one of the club's teams. I was reluctant at first because I never considered becoming a football coach, but I have no regrets."

A definite highlight was coaching Tuks to win the Varsity Tournament in 2017.