Former striker for the 'Bafana Bafana' team, Lechlokhonolo Majoro, is actively pursuing qualifications to work in attacking player coaching in South Africa.
At the beginning of his professional career, Majoro studied and obtained qualifications in radiography, which seemed to indicate his plans after football would be in the medical field. However, the passion for football that enveloped Majoro throughout almost two decades of playing proved too strong, and football remains his main love that he wants to continue developing after retiring.
During his prime, Majoro was a highly effective striker. His natural talent allowed him to join the elite group of players representing 'Kaizer Chiefs' and 'Orlando Pirates' from major Soweto clubs, after starting his career with 'AmaZulu' from KZN.
Currently, the 40-year-old athlete serves as an ambassador for the Betway Premiership and MTN8 leagues. Nevertheless, his main priority is contributing to the development of youth and professional players. He founded the Major Elite Soccer Strikers Academy (MESSA) with the aim of addressing the constant shortage of goalscorers in South Africa by training high-caliber finishers.
Recognizing that his playing experience is insufficient, Majoro began studying to obtain CAF coach badges. Although these certifications will make him a fully certified coach, Majoro intends to specialize specifically in working with strikers, rather than radiography at this time.
He exclusively told IOL Sport: 'Studying is my thing. I have always liked to expand my knowledge. Yes, I am a radiologist by profession, and during my playing days I even started a business in radiography, but everything didn't go according to plan.'
Shortage of specialists in South African football
Majoro believes that football is his true calling and passion. He emphasized that one should always follow what they love because then it never feels like work. He stated that he will become a qualified coach after completing his diploma, but his goal is specialization in coaching strikers. He added: 'If we South Africans can restore our relationship with the goal, we will start playing more clinically and win more matches.'
Despite not reaching the mark of 100 goals in the PSL during his career, Majoro overcame many difficulties, including an environment where strikers rarely received the specialized support that goalkeepers do. He is determined to change this situation.
'I am completely dedicated to strikers,' said Majoro. 'Head coaches usually do not have time to focus solely on strikers because they are busy preparing tactical plans for upcoming matches and analyzing opponents.'
What MESSA offers players
'The reason I opened MESSA was to provide professional footballers with a specialized platform to hone their skills. It helps a lot. I saw this with Mduduzi Shabala from Kaizer Chiefs. He has natural technique—he just lacked ball familiarity and greater confidence.'
Majoro hopes to combine two fields—medicine and football—to become a leading attacker coach, as the lessons he learned in both areas share striking similarities. He explained that radiography requires discipline, just like football. In healthcare, everything demands observation and caution, as it is a controlled, clinical space where one deals with injuries and people, thus requiring precise procedures.
'In football, especially when playing as a striker, you need to understand your environment, the players you work with, and the specific requirements for different groups. Ultimately, the goal never moves—only the goalkeeper moves. The most important thing is mastering the technique.'