Coach Tapfumaneyi Dodo during his time at Maruleng Celtics.
By: Refilwe Sebola
After stepping away from football for just over a season to pursue other work opportunities, respected coach Tapfumaneyi Dodo is ready to return to the touchline — and he has set his sights firmly on the ABC Motsepe League.
The Zimbabwean-born tactician, known for his calm demeanour and sharp football mind, boasts a rich coaching history across Limpopo. He has previously guided Mariveni United, Tzaneen United, and Acornbush United, before taking charge of Maruleng Celtics in the ABC Motsepe League.
Acornbush was the first club he coached in South Africa, having been recommended to the side by veteran mentor Jacob Sakala.
Dodo says the time away has renewed his passion for the game.
“Football is in my blood. I took a break to focus on other things, but now I’m ready to return. I believe I still have a lot to offer,” he said.
His coaching résumé speaks for itself. At Mariveni United, Dodo achieved one of his biggest highlights when he led the team to the Nedbank Cup Last 32 twice, where they put up a brave fight before eventually losing to reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns and EC Bees.
With Tzaneen United, he successfully won promotion to the then SAB League, showcasing his ability to build competitive sides from the ground up.
At Maruleng Celtics, he guided the club to a strong fourth-place finish in their debut ABC Motsepe League season — a remarkable achievement for a newly promoted team.
Dodo also gained valuable experience earlier in his career as an assistant coach at City Pillars, working under current South Africa U20 coach Raymond Mdaka.
Now, with the new season underway, the highly regarded mentor is open to offers and hopeful that an ambitious ABC Motsepe League club will give him the opportunity to continue his coaching journey.
“Wherever I go, I want to build, develop players, and help a team compete. I’m ready,” he said.
As clubs across the province look to strengthen their technical teams, one thing is clear: Tapfumaneyi Dodo’s return adds an experienced and influential figure back into the local football landscape.