Matebedi draws inspiration from the enduring partnership of national 100m record holder Akani Simbine and his coach Werner Prinsloo, who have worked together since Simbine's teenage years and celebrate 15 years of partnership this year.

With over two decades of coaching experience, during which he has mentored top athletes like Shaun Maswanganyi and Anaso Jobodwana, Matebedi is committed to staying by the side of Walaza, who will turn 19 in February, to nurture his promising career.

“After achieving success early in their careers, many athletes feel the need to work with so-called ‘big-name’ coaches, but these coaches often fail to truly understand them,” said Matebedi.

“Take someone like Akani, for instance—he’s been with his coach for 15 years, and their strong relationship speaks volumes. Breaking that bond can make everything more challenging. I’d like to coach Bayanda for as long as he’s willing to work with me.

“Usain Bolt stayed with his coach until he retired—why can’t I do the same? I could coach Bayanda all the way to his retirement. Over the past seven years, I’ve seen the value of building close connections with my athletes. We’ve learned how to communicate effectively, and I’ve developed a fatherly role with them. We share a great relationship, full of laughter and fun.”

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Matebedi and Walaza are set to mark their third year of collaboration in 2025, a journey that continues to evolve as Walaza remains a junior athlete this year.

Despite this, Matebedi has ambitious plans to develop him into one of the continent's top sprinters. “He’s still a junior, but trains alongside senior athletes like Sinesipho Dambile and Gift Leotlela. The progress he’s made is impressive, and he’s maturing quickly, which will make it easier for him to compete against senior athletes,” added the coach.

“Although many may view him as a senior, I still treat him as a junior athlete for now. We’re building a strong, unbreakable bond, and coaching him has been an absolute pleasure.”

Walaza claimed two gold medals at the World Under-20 Championships in Lima, Peru, last year, and went on to earn a silver medal in the 4x100m relay as part of Team South Africa at the Paris Olympic Games.

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