An unexpected turn that shaped Machine’s destiny
Mqondisi Dube | Monday October 26, 2026 06:00
Nthaga was installed as Zebras caretaker coach last month, in a hurried move following the abrupt departure of South African Morena Ramoreboli, who took up a post as Bafana Bafana assistant.
Now, the weight of a nation's expectations suddenly shifts to Nthaga. He has begun his reign in promising fashion, with the Zebras going close to upsetting Libya away before settling for a 2-2 stalemate. The national team also stole a point in their clash against Tunisia last month, to ensure the Zebras picked two valuable points on the road as they began their quest to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations finals. Nthaga is still getting to grips with the local top flight after spending most of his coaching career with First Division sides. But he is already proving his mettle as his side, Tonota FC, lead the FNB Premiership title race five games into the season. However, this week the club announced that Nthaga had resigned although the coach disputed the version, challenging authorities to tell the nation the truth.
In a recent interview before the Tonota FC storm, Nthaga indicated that he was more than ready to take the Zebras job on a full-time basis.
'Football is all about results, and I will let people judge me on what I do. I think there were a lot of positives in the first two games and we have to build from that,' the well-spoken mentor said.
Nthaga said the appointment has left him taken aback, as he was already in the structures as the Under-23 national team coach.
'I was ready; remember I have been part of the structures. I have assisted (Teenage) Mpote, I have assisted (Didier) da Rosa (Gomes) even though it was not for a long time, and I have been part of the Under-20, so I understand the demands of international football,' he said.
His journey began under fortuitous circumstances when, back in 2004, Nthaga was a Black Peril player; the club dismissed its coach.
'At the time, the club was fighting relegation, and following the dismissal of our coach, I was asked to step in as a caretaker coach. It was an unexpected opportunity, but one that would ultimately shape my future. We went on to win seven of our eight matches, and that experience gave me the belief and conviction that coaching was something I was destined to pursue,' he said. However, his journey was not without interruption. At the end of that season, Nthaga took up a professional opportunity with Standard Bank Group in South Africa, temporarily stepping away from football for approximately three years.
Upon returning to Botswana, he was approached by Black Peril to rejoin the club in a coaching capacity. What followed was a period of success, as the team secured back-to-back promotions, climbing from the Second Division through to First Division and into the Premier League.
“That period reinforced my belief in my coaching abilities and marked the beginning of what has been a long and rewarding journey in football. As they say, the rest is history,” he said.
His elevation to the national team setup represents a significant moment in a career built largely through years of working with clubs outside the top-flight spotlight. Over the years, Nthaga has coached several local sides, including Black Peril, Letlapeng, Notwane, Flamengo Santos, Security Systems, Tlokweng United and Mogoditshane Fighters.
Much of his career was spent in the First Division, partly because he had to balance his coaching ambitions with employment in the corporate sector. The demands of his professional career limited his ability to commit fully to Premier League football, earning him a reputation as a coach more accustomed to the lower divisions.
Yet Nthaga does not regard that experience as a weakness, arguing that working in challenging environments has helped shape his philosophy and sharpen his ability to build competitive teams with limited resources.
“A significant part of my coaching career was spent in the First Division, largely because I had to balance my coaching ambitions with my professional career outside football. The demands of my employment made it difficult to commit fully to coaching at Premier League level,” he said.
“As a result, I was often labelled a First Division coach. However, I have never viewed that as a limitation. If anything, those experiences helped shape my coaching philosophy, strengthened my ability to build competitive teams and taught me how to succeed in challenging environments, often with limited resources.”
For Nthaga, it is the ability to improve players and deliver results rather than the status of the team that matters. “I have always believed that a coach’s ability should be measured by the quality of their work, the development of their players and the results they achieve, rather than simply the level at which they coach,” he said.
His introduction to coaching was a product of an opportunity that gradually developed into a clear professional ambition. Although he had not mapped out a coaching career from an early age, the experience at Black Peril convinced him that he could make a success of the profession.
“Coaching was not necessarily something I had planned from a very young age. However, once I was exposed to it during my time at Black Peril in 2004, I developed a strong conviction that I could become a successful coach,” he said.
“Even whilst pursuing my professional career in the corporate sector, coaching remained a long-term ambition. I always knew that, at some point, I wanted to dedicate myself fully to football.”
The combination of corporate experience and football, Nthaga believes, has helped shape his approach to leadership.
“For me, coaching has never simply been about standing on the touchline and managing matches. It is about leadership, developing people, building teams, and creating an environment in which players can realise their potential,” he said.
“Looking back, I believe my journey through both the corporate world and football has played an important role in shaping the coach and leader I am today.”