Isaac Tetteh is currently Head of Goalkeeping at Auckland United. He coaches the Goalkeepers for the Mens and Women's First team as well as overseeing goalkeeping coaching across the whole club.
His experience includes coaching the Football Ferns and NZF age group teams.
He runs holiday programmes for Junior & Youth players, as well as offering one-on-one sessions for goalkeepers. These sessions are open to goalkeepers from any club.
Growing up in Ghana, West Africa, Isaac started playing football as soon as he could walk.
His passion for football and goalkeeping led to a professional contract as a goalkeeper in the Red Bull Ghana project from 2012 to 2014. James Bannatyne was his coach and mentor as he started his own coaching journey. After the Red Bull Ghana project ended, Isaac moved to New Zealand (with the help and support of James) to pursue a career playing and coaching. After two years in New Zealand, his wife and son joined him, and they added another son to their family 3 years later.
He holds the Oceania Football Confederation/New Zealand Football Goalkeeping B License.
Find out more about Isaac in this Q&A.
My coaching philosophy is centred around developing confident, disciplined, and Smart goalkeepers. I create a positive environment where players can have good banter with each other and feel part of a core group who are working towards a common goal.
“Be the best they can be”.
My philosophy brings to life all the 4 corners of the coaching model.
Technical- I've always believed the goalkeeping position is very technical and I have so much joy in seeing a goalkeeper executing the basics well.
Tactical – Smart goalkeepers. I help my goalkeepers build game understanding through positioning and decision making.
Mental- One of the toughest challenges in goalkeeping- I say to my keepers you are the only one in the pink shirt, which basically means it's you and the whole world against you. You will get exposed with your mistakes, but must understand that’s part of being a goalkeeper.
My favourite line is OUR JOB IS TO PREVENT GOALS BUT ON THE FLIP SIDE WE CONCEDE GOALS. This is part of the DNA of a goalkeeper. This is ensuring my goalkeepers move on after setbacks.
Physical – Personally I love a goalkeeper with a physical presence and a beast, Agile, Coordinated and Brave. Putting their body on the line!
Everyone is unique in their own ways, there is not a correct or the wrong way of killing the chicken, At the end of the day we have a chicken meal ready!
For me a good session must have structure, flow and intensity. I like to start with a session theme, build a warmup based on the theme, then progress in the technical requirement for the theme then finish off with a game realistic situation, where the goalkeeper must bring to life all the components of the session in a game like situation. When players leave my sessions, they feel enjoyment, trained and challenged.
I’ve always said this from the day i arrived at Ngāruawāhia, you feel the sense of belonging with the multi-culture nature of the landscape. My first thought was family, everyone made me feel welcomed and I felt genuinely cared and people wanted to see me succeed. This prompted my thinking of raising my family here and bring my little Joseph from Ghana. Off the pitch, I was surprised by how calm and relaxed the lifestyle is compared to Ghana. The culture and weather were big adjustments, but with James Bannatyne, Maxine and Ricky Duffell, Matt Williams, the late Jared Williams (May his soul rest in peace) and so many other people at the club who are welcoming, looked after and made me feel comfortable.
Young goalkeepers are little explorers, I support them to understand the basis of goalkeeping but ultimately I want them to play with freedom, without the fear of making mistake. I keep telling them to have fun while they explore this amazing position, and I am always there to be their tour guide if they have any questions. I am the “Guidance”.
My sessions are tailored for each player. I assess the player’s individual needs and build a session around their strengths and areas for improvement. There’s a strong focus on technique, coordination, strength work, and decision‑making. I give feedback when needed, but I also ask lot of questions to help goalkeepers to work out what’s best for them, and what they could do differently in the same situation.
I keep sessions fun but demanding. The goal is always for the keeper to leave with a big smile, feeling more equipped and confident.
I remind goalkeepers that mistakes are part of the position — even world‑class players make them.
We analyse their game if it was filmed and use lots of questioning to support learning. I also use positive reinforcement and bring the same situation into our training sessions and ensure the keeper is seeing the same picture as much as possible and hopefully that help them build confidence.
Most of my sessions are intense. We incorporate strength work, core, co-ordination mobility and stability drills in one session. We have intensity within the session itself, for goalkeepers to build fitness. We also educate goalkeepers on the benefit of sleep, nutrition, study and gym work.
I’ve been very fortunate to work with some amazing goalkeepers over my career. Some of the goalkeepers i've coached have become professionals. Reflecting back to when they were young goalkeepers, these kids worked hard, committed and pushed themselves in every session, and had the ability to receive feedback and put it into practise. I am still working with some of the best young goalkeepers in the country and in due time they will be flying the flag of New Zealand high. I get joy from playing a big or small part of their goalkeeping journey.
Most importantly, have fun and embrace the journey.
Communication is key. I work with the head coach to understand the team’s style of play and tactical plan, then shape the goalkeeper’s decisions to match that. Whether playing out from the back or managing defensive structure, the goalkeeper becomes part of the whole system, not an isolated position. Most importantly for me: A goalkeeper must be able to make saves. Not just being good with feet and be there when the team needs him most.
The modern goalkeeper must be comfortable with the ball and involved in build‑up play.
High starting positions, quick resets, and playing under pressure are now essential. I incorporate playing out, distribution patterns, and game‑reading scenarios into training so our keepers are prepared for today’s demands.
Also, importantly, ensuring we stick to our core job as a goalkeeper (Prevent the ball from going into the goal). Can you make that save to keep your team in the game?
Invest in specialised coaching, create structured pathways, and ensure goalkeepers train regularly with both the team and a GK coach. A supportive environment and consistent training make a huge difference. When clubs value the position properly, the development follows naturally.
Energy, fun, and lots of goalkeeping action. There is a competition element in every session. Sessions include technical work, games, and Players leave with new skills, new friendships, most importantly excitement about goalkeeping.
At INGOAL, I provide coaching services for club and country. What excites me most is getting to work with the next generations of goalkeepers in this beautiful country and am glad to have such an amazing support from INGOAL to be able to work in football fulltime and confident with the right support and pathways across all clubs, I believe NZ will keep producing goalkeepers who compete on the world stage.
Be a student of the game. Observe experienced coaches, ask questions, and stay open-minded. Coaching is about communication, understanding your goalkeepers needs, and building relationships across the various coaching groups. Focus on people first (Be an amazing human being), the technical knowledge will grow, but trust is what truly helps players improve. Lastly, spend time on the grass working with the young goalkeepers and find your identity as a coach.
I’m incredibly grateful to have a great mentor in James Bannatyne, and to have worked alongside some of the top coaches in the country.
Their guidance, support, and high standards have played a huge role in shaping the coach I am today. Without these people around me, I’m not sure I would be operating at this level.
Living in New Zealand has taught me the importance of having an open mindset, embracing feedback, and building meaningful relationships. These values have become a huge part to the way I coach and how I connect with players and staff.
The lifestyle here has also helped me find a healthy balance between my coaching career and my family life. I get to spend quality time with my boys, which keeps me grounded and motivated.
Working with the National Women’s age-group teams has truly elevated my performance as a high-performance goalkeeper coach within the New Zealand Football system. The environment, expectations, and people involved have pushed me to keep developing and stay at my best.
Photo: Jared Williams (RIP), Isaac, James Bannatyne. 1 day after arrival in New Zealand. It was cold!
When I first arrived in New Zealand, I had zero knowledge about the weather and culture.
Coming from Ghana, where it’s 30–35 degrees most days, to landing in the Waikato at 6–10 degrees was a massive shock. I still remember playing my first game on a freezing cold day and wondering how i was going to survive after that game! Hahaha!
The culture was another big adjustment. Ghana is very community‑based, you always see people around, the streets are lively, and everyone knows everyone. In New Zealand, life is quieter and more centred around close friends and immediate family. At first, it felt strange seeing fewer people out on the streets, but over time I've got used to it and met some amazing people who have become like family to me. The cost of living also added to these things I had to adjust to and pushes you to work hard and stay disciplined to provide for your family. These lifestyle changes, the pace of life, the independence, and the expectations — were all major adjustments.
Football was different too. In Ghana, the game is more street‑driven, creative, and instinctive. In New Zealand, it’s more structured and organised. Over time, I’ve learned to combine the best of both worlds: the discipline and professionalism I gained in New Zealand with the passion and raw energy I grew up with in Ghana. Together, they’ve shaped the coach I am today.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to all the people and clubs who have supported and shaped my coaching journey. Your guidance, belief, and contribution have played a major role in my development.
Special thanks to:
• James Bannatyne • Ngāruawāhia United AFC • Olé Football Academy • New Zealand Football • Auckland United Academy • Eastern Suburbs AFC • Western Springs AFC
Thank you all for being part of my growth and for helping me become the coach I am today.
Photo: James Bannatyne and Isaac - Ghana Red Bull Academy c. 2013
Photos: Photo: Ethan Waipoi, Auckland United & New Zealand Football & James Bannatyne
