Coach T wishes he was home to enjoy surprise SA Sports Awards nomination

Matebedi, affectionately known as Coach T, recently accepted a lucrative offer to become the head of sprints coach in Malaysia and officially started his new role on 9 August.

He has been nominated in a highly competitive Coach of the Year category alongside Rocco Meiring, who won the award last year, and Proteas cricket coach Shukri Conrad.

Speaking to SABC Sport from Malaysia, Matebedi admitted the nomination came during a difficult but exciting period in his life as he adjusts to a new country and a new coaching environment.

"As much as I'm happy about the nomination, it came at the wrong time because I just wish I could've been back in the country. I just wish I was back home, now I'll just have to send one of my representatives to the event."

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The award-winning coach says the nomination was completely unexpected and came as a huge surprise when he received the message from the Department of Sport.

Despite being far from home, Matebedi says he is grateful for the recognition and hopes it marks the start of even bigger achievements in his coaching career.

The man who helped develop South African sprint stars such as Bayanda Walaza, Gift Leotlela, Naheen Jack, and Sinesipho Dambile says he still finds it difficult to see himself as an international coach.

"It's difficult because I just see myself as a coach. I don't view myself as a big international coach, I just view it as nurturing the athletes. I have always done this for the athletes."

Matebedi says one of the things that immediately stood out when he met his Malaysian athletes for the first time was the respect they showed him.

He says their greetings, discipline, and behaviour during their first interaction left a strong impression on him and gave him confidence that he can build a positive working relationship with the team.