Meet the coaching staff

Matheus Vianna Scapin

Head Coach

Matheus has worked with teams in 29 different countries allowing him to deliver and observe different coaching methods, structures and be able to implement Spurs’ own philosophy to build programs and develop players into the elite football stage. Fluent in 4 languages and with experiences in the male and female game at all levels, Matheus brings a wealth of coaching knowledge and experience to the Global Football Program.

Matheus has playing experience in Brazil, Greece and England. He has worked full-time as a Lead and Head Coach in both domestic and international programs delivering Tottenham’s philosophy.

Matheus holds an AFC A coaching licence as well as an UEFA B coaching licence. He has a Bachelor's degree in Sports Coaching Science and holds a Master of Science in Performance Football Coaching.

Robert Gold

Lead Coach

Rob has served as a Global Football Coach for Tottenham Hotspur since 2016, where he has been actively involved in both domestic and international coaching programs, delivering the unique coaching philosophy of Tottenham. He has also contributed to the development of young talents in the Tottenham Academy by coaching in Development Centres, which aim to nurture players into the Academy.

Rob possesses a distinctive coaching style, honed through his coaching experiences in various countries such as America, the Cayman Islands and parts of Europe. These experiences have allowed him to incorporate his own coaching approach and Tottenham's renowned football philosophy into the curriculum of UOW's Global Football Program.

His passion for both sports and academics is evident through his educational journey, which includes completing a degree in Sports & Exercise Science and a Secondary School Teaching Degree with specialisations in Physical Education and History. Additionally, Rob has recently achieved his third degree, a Master of Elite Football Coaching, in addition to obtaining his UEFA B License coaching badge. His commitment to both education and sports equips him with a wealth of experience to support the development of students in the Global Football Program.

Petr Sestak

Goalkeeper Coach

Petr was born in the Czech Republic and started playing football as a six year old. With football being the country’s number one sport, Petr instantly fell in love with the game.

From six years of age Petr played at FK Viktorka Zizkov and progressed through the youth academy into the first team. There, he trained under the guidance of professional coaches and with Czech National Team players like Karel Poborsky, Josef Nemec and Petr Brabec.

After arriving in Australia in 2000, Petr has played for several State League clubs before retiring and moving into full-time coaching.

Petr has taken direction from the coaches at Spurs as to how to implement their philosophy into his goalkeeper sessions and is using that knowledge to work with the goalkeepers in the Global Football Program.

Sami Diamond

Head Physical Performance Coach

Sami grew up playing a range of different sports, specifically playing competitive soccer, touch football and cross country running. Her passion for sport as well as physical and mental performance led her to complete a Bachelor of Sport & Exercise Science at UTS and an Honours in Sports Psychology.

Sami is responsible for the physical development of the students in the Global Football Program and will work with other coaching staff to develop individual strength and athletic development programs to ensure each students area of focus is relevant to the areas they need to develop.

Professional experience:

• Head Physical Performance Coach – Illawarra Academy of Sport (2023 – present)
• Strength & Conditioning Coach – Carlton Football Club (2021 – 2023)
• Strength & Conditioning Coach – Sydney Swans Academy (2019 – 2021)

Lachlan Mackenzie

Physical Performance Coach

Lachlan Mackenzie is a Strength & Conditioning Coach whose understanding of football is underpinned by experience as a licenced football coach and many years of playing and studying ‘the beautiful game’. 

Lachlan has a specific interest in developing the movement qualities of emerging players which he puts into practice at the Illawarra Stingrays & Wollongong Wolves.

10 years as a clinical physiotherapist provided Lachlan with a professional lens to understand and implement physical preparation as a tool for injury prevention, rehabilitation & return to play.

Professional experience:

• Physical Performance Coach - Illawarra Academy of Sport (2022-present)
• Head Strength & Conditioning Coach - Illawarra Stingrays (2022 - present)
• Football Coach - Wollongong Wolves & Illawarra Stingrays (2021 - present)