Thabane Sutu inducted into Kentucky Youth Soccer Hall of Fame

Thabane Sutu, the newest member of the Kentucky Youth Soccer Hall of Fame...

Former Lesotho goalkeeper Thabane Sutu has been inducted into the Kentucky Youth Soccer Hall of Fame in the United States.

The Kentucky Soccer Hall of Fame is a joint project of the youth and adult soccer associations who govern soccer in Kentucky as members of the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA.

The Hall of Fame was developed in 2008 to honour the outstanding achievements of individuals positively impacting soccer in the state of Kentucky.

The Kentucky Youth Soccer association said Sutu was being inducted into its Hall of Fame for “the contributions, success and the positive impact (he) made upon the game in Kentucky”.

The purpose of Kentucky Soccer Hall of Fame is to: ·         To honour the outstanding achievements and contributions of individuals whose significant accomplishments and effect upon the sport in Kentucky merit the highest recognition ·         To promote the sport of soccer to both the soccer community and to the general public ·         To honour those who contributed to the growth of soccer in the Commonwealth of Kentucky ·         To provide future generations with exemplary citizenship role models ·         To build and bring public attention to the sport of soccer

Sutu was inducted for his work with United 1996 Futbol Club and Louisville City FC.

Sutu, who captained Lesotho from 1994 to 1997, moved to the US in 1998 and in 2001 began working at United 1996 FC, a prominent youth programme in Kentucky where he eventually became technical director. In 2015, the former Likuena goalkeeper was head-hunted to join Louisville City when it was formed to campaign in the second division United Soccer League (USL). As goalkeeper coach he helped the team win the USL Cup in 2017.

Last month Sutu joined Orlando City in the top-flight Major League Soccer (MLS).

Sutu was recognised at the 2018 Hall of Fame luncheon in Lexington on August 11 along with two other inductees for this year – Nathan Love and Andrew Farrell.

The induction is the latest achievement in a long list for Sutu.

As part of his glittering playing career Sutu won the Arab League title in 1995 and three straight Egyptian league titles from 1994 to 1996 with Al Ahly.

Thabane Sutu hired as Orlando City goalkeeper coach in MLS

Thabane Sutu continues his rise in America...

Former Lesotho captain Thabane Sutu has been hired as the new the goalkeeper coach of Orlando City which campaigns in America’s top-flight Major League Soccer (MLS).

Sutu was at Louisville City, which campaigns in the second division United Soccer League (USL), since it was founded in 2015.

Sutu was hired alongside Daniel Byrd to join the technical staff of new Orlando City head coach James O’Connor. Both Sutu and Byrd worked with O’Conner at Louisville City since the club’s first year. Under the stewardship of O’Connor, Byrd and Sutu, LouCity made three consecutive trips to the USL Eastern Conference Final, falling to the eventual champion twice before raising the USL Cup in 2017.

Orlando City general manager Niki Budalic welcomed the additions of Sutu and Byrd.

“Daniel and Thabane were obvious fits for the technical staff, not just because they worked well with James, but because they also had a lot of success at Louisville,” Budalic said.

“That’s been a primary focus as we prepare for the second half of the season and beyond. We’re very excited for Daniel and Thabane to join us.”

His move to Orlando City is the latest step in a distinguished football career for Sutu.

In addition to coaching LouCity’s goalkeepers, Sutu previously served as the technical director for United 1996 Futbol Club, a prominent youth programme in the US.

As a professional goalkeeper, Sutu won the Arab League title in 1995 and three straight Egyptian league titles from 1994 to 1996 with Al Ahly. Sutu also captained Lesotho from 1994 to 1997.

Orlando City is a new club in the MLS having begun playing in 2015 as an expansion team.