As many as 10 Tuks’ players in the team are involved in pre-exam studies and will have to alternate between training and studying.
The current scenario has forced Troughton to continually change his training schedule to accommodate the players.
“At Tuks, we take the players’ studies very seriously; our policy is education first and football next. We have had to change our training sessions to fit in with the boys studying because we have to accommodate them.
“While it is a challenge to face such a situation, you have to realise that it is a culture at the club that we have to live with. But the positive is that it refreshes the players so that they come back hungry,” the coach says.
“We don’t need to put the boys that are going into class under any form of pressure; that is why we even put them on the bench these days. Some may not have trained with the rest of the team for as long as a week.
“For example, you cannot expect the same from George Maluleka as the others at this time of the season because he is involved in matric exams and only avails himself at training when he can.
“But we are taking it as a challenge. My colleague, Steve Barker, and I have a good, dual-coaching relationship that will bring out the best in the team. ”
Four Tuks’ players Maluleka, Andile Jali, Masibusane Zongo and Njabulo Ntusi, are in high school.
The other six in tertiary studies are Brian Ncala, Desmond Khuzwayo, Warren Bishop, Dumisani Masilela, Tristyn Coetsee and Sipho Mabunda.
Tuks have won their opening two games of the season despite having lost a number of players during the winter break.
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