On Friday, 2 July 2021 announced the return of Samuel Troughton to the AmaTuks as a Technical Director. The recommendation and decision to appoint Sammy, as he is affectionately called, comes after a review of the 2020/2021 season.

Sammy has coached for a number of teams both in the Glad Africa Championship and the PSL. He comes on board with his extensive experience in terms of promotional football.

In the 2007/2008 season, Sammy played a critical role in AmaTuks qualification to the top-flight division – previously well known as the Absa Premiership and eventual promotion to the Premier League in the 2011/2012 season. 

Tlisane Motaung who was instrumental in bringing Sammy back to the club remains the head coach of AmaTuks.

“I am very excited to have Sammy back because not only does he understand how the club operates but I appreciate that he is a very honest guy, he calls a spade a spade. I feel we will work well together. I played under him when I was a student and he has had a huge influence on how I approach my coaching so we have a very good understanding in terms of how we want to play.” Motaung said.

Sammy’s role is to redirect the club’s development system and to also mentor the head coach and technical team. 

“21 years ago, I was brought in to spearhead the elite football at Tuks and it is exciting to be back at my old stomping ground. I have coached many teams around the country; I have been to Durban, Cape Town, Mpumalanga, Free State and I can honestly not say that there is any structure like the one we have at Tuks.”

“Between all the junior national teams, the PSL teams, players who have been selected for Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana we have over a hundred exceptional players who were brought up from this system and we need to get that back. I am not coming in through the back door as the head coach”

“My role is very clear, we need to get back to promoting more players from within the club than those we bring from outside. It is what has worked for us before and there is no reason why we should be deviating from that. This is one of the few places that actually takes the position of Technical Director very serious. I am very excited to be working with Mabuza, the man has enough energy for both of us and I am excited at the prospect of what we can achieve together, with the support of the rest of the coaches in the club.” Troughton concluded.

Sammy has been welcomed by the entire club and has arrived in time for pre-season preparations for the first team. He has already met with all the coaches in the club and begun working with the student team preparing for the 2021 Varsity Football tournament.