What Thabo Senong and Yeye have changed at Zimbabwean club

Something has changed at FC Platinum since South Africans Thabo Senong and Reneilwe “Yeye” Letsholonyane took charge.

The Zimbabwean PSL side are beginning to look more organised, difficult to break down and, most importantly, consistent.

Senong was appointed FC Platinum head coach in July, replacing Joel Luphahla, while former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana midfielder Letsholonyane joined him as his assistant.

The pair had to wait more than three weeks for their work permits before officially taking charge.

But since they took charge, the results started to change.

FC Platinum: Four games, no goals conceded

FC Platinum’s recent run under the South African coaching duo has been particularly impressive defensively.

They beat Agama 1-0 on Senong’s debut, defeated Blackrock 2-0 in the ZIFA Munhumutapa Challenge Cup, held Scottland to a 0-0 draw and then edged ZPC Kariba 1-0.

The latest victory made it three wins for Senong.

That means five goals scored and none conceded across the four matches.

The clean sheet against Scottland was especially significant, considering the strength of the league leaders.

It suggests that Senong and Letsholonyane have quickly placed an emphasis on organisation and discipline without completely sacrificing their attacking approach.

FC Platinum coach wants more from his attack

Despite the defensive improvement, Senong knows there is still work to do.

Ahead of the ZPC Kariba match, the coach said the team had worked on physical and tactical aspects both individually and collectively.

He also identified FC Platinum’s efficiency in the final third as an area that needed improvement.

That could be the next step in the South African coach’s project.

FC Platinum have become difficult to score against, but turning those strong defensive performances into more goals will be important as the season enters its final stages.

Yeye’s experience adds another dimension

Letsholonyane is also bringing his own coaching experience to the project.

The 44-year-old spent last season as head coach of Botswana Premier League side Matebele FC, helping the club retain its top-flight status and earning a Coach of the Season nomination.

He has described his move to Zimbabwe as an opportunity to gain international experience and continue developing as a coach.

For FC Platinum, the partnership is still in its early stages.

But four matches have already provided a clear indication of what Senong and Yeye are trying to build.