DURING his illustrious playing career, El Jefe (The Chef) used to cook many an opponent on the basketball courts of Côte d’Ivoire and the rest of the African continent. The result was a plate peppered with domestic trophies and a sprinkling of continental success for the iconic Stéphane Konaté.
It’s been two years since Konaté called time on his remarkable playing career. Since then, he has traded in his playing sneakers for the coach’s clipboard and, in a short space of time, has tasted success as the coach of Juenesse Club d’Abidjan (JCA).
In an interview with The Big Tip Off, Konaté, who had a triumphant season with JCA, says he was always adamant that he wanted to be a coach after his playing career ended. The Ivorian legend expressed his love for sharing knowledge, which pushed him to pursue his coaching certifications in 2016.
“When I announced that I was retiring, I already knew I was going to be a coach. I believe it was written for me. Also, I am a sports teacher, so, it’s been my job. I love it and I love giving. I love transforming players. Making them better. I love this game,” said the former Côte d’Ivoire captain.
Konate, a 2005 FIBA Africa Champion Cup winner and MVP, continued, “While I was playing, I also prepared for life after basketball. I passed my FIBA Level 1 in 2016, and a few years ago got my Level 2.”
He says the inspiration to take up coaching came from within and was affirmed by coaches who told him he had what it took to call the shots from the bench. Having the latitude to give input convinced him he was making the right choice.
“No one specific person inspired me to want to become a coach. It came quite naturally,” said Konatè. “One of the things I did well was to find solutions on the court and propose them to the coaches. It is something my former coaches became aware of and told me I would make a good coach. So, I took their advice.”
While Konate headed the counsel of his former coaches to pursue the coaching profession, they also offered words of caution.
“Generally, coaches told me to be careful because good players are not necessarily good coaches. The difference with me, I think, is that I’m a teacher. It changes a lot,” said Konatè.
He says his first coaching role with the Ivorian club, Hypersonics, was a confirmation that he is a capable coach, and while his stay was short at the club, he achieved good results.
“They (Hypersonics) were the first team I coached in the Ligue d’Or last year. They are a team of young people, and I proved I could add value to them. At the end of the first phase of the championship, we finished first and played in the playoffs,” said the two-time AfroBasket silver-medallist.”
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He took over JCA under not-so-easy circumstances, as he had little time to acclimate to the team. Konatè expressed that he thrives on challenges, and the opportunity to lead an ambitious JCA club, already boasting two titles – the Coupe de Côte d’Ivoire and the Super Cup – was a compelling prospect.
“When JCA offered me the head coach’s job and to compete for the championship, it was a big challenge for me. I thrive on challenges because they push you,” said Konaté. “I had a month before the start of the championship. So, I did not have the preparation time I would have wanted, but I accepted the challenge. I remember the first game… The pressure was mounting as we approached that first match. Everyone was waiting for me and my team… To see how we would do.
“I remember feeling the nerves in my body. But I trusted the players and they trusted me too. I think things went well, even if I lost that first match in overtime.”
That early loss provided the right jolt, as it led to Konate masterminding JCA’s exceptional season. They marched to a historic double, winning the cup in April and the league this month. While he hopes to build on the recent success in domestic competition, Konate explained that winning the two championships came much earlier than expected.
“Just amazing. It’s wonderful. I didn’t think it would happen so quickly. At the same time, I was working for it. I worked game after game without thinking about the end of the championship. And it happened… Thank God,” said Konate. “It’s clear that we have achieved something great with this club. The hardest part begins now. The hardest thing is now staying on top.”
The league victory means Konaté, who competed in the 2023 Basketball Africa League (BAL) with the ABC Fighters, will now lead JCA on its first-ever Road to BAL campaign – a path he’s well acquainted with from his time with the Fighters.
“The board started to look at local signings first, and then some experienced players to help us qualify. We will have a month and a half to prepare for this competition,” said Konaté. “If we go through the qualifying stages and we manage to qualify for the BAL, it will serve something incredible for the club and especially for me. To come back to the BAL as a head coach would be incredible.
Konatè had a legendary career as a player. Now, as a coach, he is writing a new chapter and already carving out what is turning out to be another amazing story.
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