23/09/2026
⚽ MOLETSANE VETERANS — COACH PROFILE
🌟 AMON APPLEGREEN “STAR”
“Star” — short for “Stalliona”
Role: Coach | Former Player | Football Student | Team Leader
Club: Moletsane Veterans Soccer Club
Known for: Passion, discipline, experience, football knowledge and keeping a team of Veterans together!
🏟️ THE MAN BEHIND “STAR”
Meet Amon Applegreen, affectionately known as “Star”, short for “Stalliona” — a name that goes all the way back to his playing days in the Chappies Little League.
Star's football journey is deeply rooted in Moletsane. He played for Moletsane Manzer City, working his way from Division F, Division E, Second Division and eventually First Division.
Back in those days, the team ruled the grounds that were once known as Tip Top Grounds, with opponents knowing they were up against a talented and competitive side.
Among the players of that era were names such as Thabo “Tsikitsiki” Mooki and Jomo, among others.
But for Star, football was never only about winning.
🧭 THE LESSONS OF “BRA CHIEF”
Star gives special credit to the late Kennedy “Bra Chief” Mokgame, who played a major role in shaping him.
Bra Chief taught the young players discipline, responsibility and respect, while making sure football never distracted them from school and staying away from trouble.
Those lessons have clearly followed Star into his coaching career.
«“His focus was on soccer and school — moral grounds and respect for self and others.”»
🧠 FROM PLAYER TO COACH
Star never planned to become a coach.
It happened through adversity.
After suffering a serious leg fracture that kept him away from playing for months, his love for football simply wouldn't allow him to walk away from the game.
Instead, he found another way to contribute.
He began paying close attention to team talks, coaching methods, tactics and how different coaches handled different personalities.
He would even sit in on the second-half team talks of good teams simply to listen and learn.
Eventually, a former Moletsane Veterans coach called him to become his assistant.
That opportunity became the beginning of Star's coaching journey.
He learned from his predecessor's approach, philosophy and ability to deal with different characters — knowledge that he continues to apply today.
And Star didn't stop there.
In his spare time, he now searches the internet for coaching clinics, football drills and coaching classes, constantly looking for ways to improve.
🧩 COACHING VETERANS IS A DIFFERENT BALL GAME!
According to Star, coaching young players and coaching Veterans are two completely different challenges.
With youngsters, you often start from the basics — teaching them fundamentals while being patient and helping them understand the game.
Veterans?
That's another story! 😂
You're dealing with experienced footballers, strong personalities, different levels of maturity and, occasionally, some very stubborn characters!
For Star, coaching Veterans isn't always about teaching football.
It's about understanding human behaviour, psychology and team dynamics.
His job is to make sure everyone understands:
- Their role
- Their responsibilities
- Their contribution
- The team's structure
- The importance of discipline
- How their individual personalities fit into the bigger picture
Sometimes that means putting structure around people who are your own age mates.
Other times, it means giving players shared responsibility and allowing them to use their own experience and intelligence.
That's the art of coaching Veterans.
😤 THE PLAYER WHO TESTS THE COACH!
Star refuses to name names — but he's given us enough clues! 😂
There's one very important player who is:
Passionate.
Competitive.
A winner.
Very good.
And somehow already sitting on a yellow card before the game has even started! 😂🟨
The mystery player wears Jersey No. 5.
According to Star, the challenge is managing that passion and ensuring emotional intelligence doesn't disappear when the referee starts pushing the wrong buttons!
But Star believes they're getting there.
The mission: Control the passion without taking away the competitiveness that makes the player valuable.
😂 THE EXCUSES DEPARTMENT
Like every football team, Moletsane Veterans has its fair share of excuses.
One recent classic?
A girlfriend making a late shopping request, which suddenly becomes a family responsibility — and ultimately affects the family's ability to arrive on time for football! 😂
But Star's philosophy is simple:
When it's time to deliver, deliver!
❤️ MORE THAN A FOOTBALL TEAM
For Star, the most memorable part of Moletsane Veterans isn't necessarily one particular match.
It's the journey.
The team regularly reflects on:
- How the club was formed
- Where it started
- The people who built it
- The brothers they have lost along the way
- The years that have passed
- The friendships that survived the journey
What started as football has become something much bigger:
Brotherhood. Family. A home away from home.
And, as Star proudly puts it:
«“Re sa Tshela Thupa.”»
The Veterans may be getting older, but don't count them out.
They still know how to beat the young fellas! 😂⚽
🕰️ STAR'S BIGGEST WISH
If Star could change one thing about Moletsane Veterans, he wouldn't change a player.
He wouldn't change the tactics.
He wouldn't even change the referees! 😂
He would simply:
STOP AGING.
Because the reality is that the Veterans are aging gracefully, and one day some of them will have to hang up their boots.
But Star understands that this football journey must continue.
His dream is to eventually have a younger team ready to receive the baton from the Veterans.
Not just to replace them.
But to carry their legacy forward and do even better than they did.
🏆 WHAT SUPPORTERS DON'T ALWAYS SEE
Supporters naturally want one thing:
WIN! WIN! WIN!
And with Moletsane Veterans' proud winning history, those expectations are understandable.
But Star says there are realities behind the scenes.
Unlike some teams, the Veterans don't always have regular training sessions.
Some players have demanding work commitments and cannot train with the team.
That means players have to take responsibility for their own fitness, preparation and professionalism.
The coach can give instructions.
But ultimately, the players have to:
Listen. Think. Execute. Stay disciplined. Be consistent.
And the results speak for themselves.
🟢 7 GAMES so far in the league
🟢 0 LOSSES
🟢 STILL STANDING
Star may be the man driving the ship, but he is quick to give the biggest credit to the people actually on the field:
THE VETERANS THEMSELVES.
Their biggest strength?
Experience.
They know how to cover for one another, understand the game and use years of football knowledge to solve problems on the pitch.
Star's job is to drive the ship, listen to advice and keep everyone moving in the same direction.
🎙️ THREE WORDS FOR THE SQUAD
If Star had to describe Moletsane Veterans in three words:
EXPERIENCE. BROTHERHOOD. RESILIENCE.
And his coaching experience?
LEARNING. PATIENCE. LEADERSHIP.
⭐ AMON “STAR” APPLEGREEN
From the Chappies Little League…
From Moletsane Manzer City…
From Tip Top Grounds…
From learning discipline under Bra Chief…
From being a player…
To suffering injury…
To sitting quietly in team talks…
To becoming an assistant…
And now to leading from the technical area…
The journey of “Star” continues.
He isn't simply coaching a football team.
He's helping preserve a football family, protect its legacy and prepare the next generation to carry the baton.
⚽ MOLETSANE VETERANS
🫡 BROTHERHOOD. EXPERIENCE. LEGACY.
“Stargo Na Magenge.” 🚶⚽
