Rezaan Jacobs was better known on the football field as Kaka – until his career was abruptly ended by a severe knee injury. That sparked his interest in taking up a role as a coach, and his obsession with developing coaches and empowering players – and changing mindsets along the way.

So first off…Kaka?

“I got my nickname from my playing days,” he says. “I’d worn the same jersey number that Kaká wore at AC Milan, jersey number 22, and also played the same role. Even scored similar types of goals, too.” 

He walked a long journey when he hung up his boots. 

At 24, he took up a role as junior coach at Juventus in Mitchell’s Plain (his home town).  At 27 he started educating himself by doing his coaching licence. He moved from Juventus to All Stars, and then switched to Old Mutual Academy, where he won the Engen Knockout Challenge, and spent many years nurturing young players. 

From there he went into senior football by becoming an assistant at Grassy Park United in the ABC Motsepe League, having the opportunity to work with Theo Hempe.  Kaka then got the opportunity to coach at D&G Orient in the SAB league, and he was the man at the helm in their maiden campaign within the ABC Motsepe League. 

Still, as a man from Mitchell’s Plain he always wanted to come home, and he was approached by Bayview on numerous occasions  – but the timing wasn’t quite right. Finally, in 2017, he accepted, and came home. 

“The structures that they had in place aligned with what I wanted to do. They had the academy structures in place and coming from that type of background it was a huge interest. They were moving in the right direction and just coming back home to Mitchells Plain. Always wanting to give back and being in possession of a CAF B licence at a young age. I saw myself in a position where I could encourage other coaches within the Mitchells Plain LFA, helping them to become more educated and by doing this improving the LFA’s player development.”

Two-Way Football, Developing Coaches, Changing Mindsets 

In his first season at Bayview he more than proved that he belonged, as he managed the SAB team and also won the prestigious Coca-Cola Cup. Currently he also has equal shares in the Regional Third Division Franchise which speaks of his interest of investing in Bayview. 

Jacobs didn’t want to be like all the other coaches, who say they want to play possession football. Rather, his ideology centres around wanting to teach them to play two-way football. 

“With and without the ball, players must be more complete – because you spend more time without it. Most players can only play when they are in possession. They lack awareness without the ball, so I put a huge emphasis on that aspect.” 

He also spends a lot of time on exercises that help them win the second ball, part of his desire to improve the tactical ability of individuals. As the newly-elected Technical Coaching Director, that’s something he’s taking seriously.

“My duty will be to work hand-in-hand with SAFA. To create proposals so we can have more coaching courses within our Local Football Association. I want to change things for Mitchells Plain, to develop coaches so our players can improve. Have regular workshops and courses so coaches are equipped.” 

Bayview has set themselves the target of getting to the ABC, and eventually the Glad Africa Championship, too. 

“I’ve been at different LFAs and it’s always the same faces. Those teams are progressing while others are left behind. These days it’s about who you know and not what you know, this needs to change.”

And it doesn’t end there.

“The next thing is to uplift female football in Mitchells Plain – we only have five teams! By the time my term is done I’d like to have at least 15 teams that are represented by women. And if it’s not too much to ask, I’d like to change the mindsets of our administrators”. 

Rezaan “Kaka” Jacobs: A Few Personal Achievements 

• 2021- Becoming the Technical Coaching Director of Mitchells Plain LFA
• 2021 – Stanturf Senior Tournament Champions with Bayview FC 
• 2019 – Kenpark u23 Tournament Champions with Bayview FC
• 2018 – Senior Coke Cup Champions with Bayview 
• 2016 – Engen Knockout Champions with Old Mutual