The call that changed everything for Tyrese Steyn

By Liam Maconi
19th August 2026

Malawi women’s national team performance analyst Tyrese Steyn says he was on the brink of leaving football before receiving a call which would change the trajectory of his career.

Steyn is currently the analyst of the University of Johannesburg Ladies team after spending time with former National First Division side NB La Masia and following their relegation back to the ABC Motsepe in 2024, Steyn made the decision to leave football and pursue other ventures.

Speaking to SABC Sport, Steyn says initially he wasn’t the one contacted for the Malawi job but was referred to by his mentors.

"I worked for NB La Masia and I left there shortly after we got relegated and I was back in the ABC Motsepe League and I decided almost like I'm going to leave football and then UJ still had my details in the database, they called me and then it was just the step of going into women's football, I accepted the job through my mentors Lucian Friedman & Yu-Sha Said,” Steyn said.

“Then Lucia said they recommended me because they were the ones initially approached for this gig and they were unfortunately unable to make it and they recommended me and then I went through with Sudesh Singh and he contacted me and asked if I was able to have a quick interview with him and he was pleased with what I can bring. Then there, the FA was also happy so it just went from there."

READ: Onthatile Zulu admits South Africa failed to capitalise against India

In realising success in the tournament Steyn worked closely with compatriot Sudesh Singh, who served as the technical advisor of the Malawi Women’s national team. He says the two developed a clear guideline before departing South Africa, with preparations beginning long before they even settled in Malawi.

Upon arriving in Malawi, the research they had been working on was confirmed.

"So, initially when he gave me the breakdown of what we need to come and do here and what our personal objectives need to be before we even left South Africa, we had clear guidelines of certain things we need to start doing before even arriving in Malawi,” he added.

So, we went to camp with all of those things already prepared and in mind and then when we eventually settled in Malawi we just then started confirming all of the things between researching and analysing beforehand and then started communicating it with the team and with the team when we arrived."