Chiefs former scout lands major role at Sekhukhune

Sekhukhune United have made a significant power move in the Betway Premiership by officially appointing former Kaizer Chiefs head of scouting Walter Steenbok as the club’s new Director of Football Strategy.

🚨CLUB STATEMENT🚨

🦔🦔🦔🦔🦔#BabinaNoko #Adibahlabe pic.twitter.com/GHO07PaKCr

— Sekhukhune United F.C. (@SekhukhuneFc) March 30, 2026

The appointment, first reported by FARPost, sees the highly respected administrator return to the PSL after resigning from his national post in February 2025. While Siwelele FC and Chippa United were both heavily linked with his signature in recent months, Babina Noko moved decisively to secure one of the continent’s most qualified football minds.

Steenbok arrives at Sekhukhune with an elite academic and professional pedigree. Holding a PhD in Sports Science and an MBA in Sports Management from the Real Madrid Graduate School, his role is designed to reinforce the club’s commitment to long-term excellence.

He will work closely with Sporting Director McDonald Makhubedu, a relationship that dates back to Steenbok’s time at SAFA, where he played a key role in Makhubedu’s coaching education. Together, they are tasked with aligning the club’s playing philosophy from the development structures straight through to the senior team.

“Dr. Steenbok brings over two decades of experience in coaching, technical leadership, and scouting,” the club stated. “He will lead the talent pathway, scouting, and high-performance programme.”

Chiefs and Sundowns Alumnus Steenbok Returns to the PSL

The ex-Chiefs man Steenbok is no stranger to the pressures of South Africa’s “Big Three.” He previously served as the Head of Scouting, Recruitment, and Analysis at Kaizer Chiefs, where he was instrumental in the squad that reached the 2021 CAF Champions League final. He also spent time as a scout for Mamelodi Sundowns, further cementing his reputation as a master of talent identification.

During his tenure at SAFA (2022–2025), Steenbok was praised for prioritising youth and women’s football, while aggressively pushing for local coaches to upgrade their badges and certifications.

Chairman Simon Malatji expressed his excitement over the appointment, noting that bringing in a strategist of Steenbok’s calibre is a “significant step” in turning Sekhukhune into a sustainable and competitive football institution.

With the club currently looking to solidify its position among the league’s elite, Steenbok’s arrival signals that Babina Noko are no longer just participants in the PSL, but are actively building a high-performance empire.