CAF lifeline for Helman Mkhalele and other South African coaches

This follows confirmation from SAFA technical director Walter Steenbok that CAF confirmed the conversion from the old SAFA Level 1, 2 and 3 certificates to align with the continental body’s accredited C, B and A licences. 

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CAF had stopped conversions in 2015 and had refused to budge, which recently resulted in coaches having to start all over again, but provision has now been made.

"Ja, CAF said to me, 'Walter, send a clear message to our people to say they must just relax. First get back into the CAF Convention, host a successful A licence [course], and the next step is a refresher course with RPL [recognition of prior learning]," said Steenbok.

"Those who are active, and have maybe Level 1, 2 or 3, or they've got the old CAF B licences, so that they can be accelerated in the process.

"So, the refresher course will also be coming next year – once we are done with this A licence course, we can then start thinking and also try to check what the new head of women's football wants to do because I was just holding the forte and leading the coach education.

"But the new head of women's football has to come in and put up her footprint on what needs to happen [for the growth of women's football]."

This puts an end to the possible barring of Mkhalele, who held a SAFA Level 2 licence, or any other assistant coaches from sitting on the bench in CAF competitions, as per club licensing regulations.

Following the return of the CAF A licence course in Johannesburg last week, Steenbok is now mapping the way forward for the the association’s roll out of CAF B courses.

"We started last year already when CAF rejected the work we had done, we had to knuckle down, get a consultant and deliver two manuals that have already been presented to CAF," he explained.

"So our CAF B and CAF A manuals have been accepted by CAF, so we're back in the convention – CAF will be sending somebody to monitor the course, and give feedback either in this phase or in the next.

"From there, we are then moving, so it's a lot of hard work that has come into this, but, again, excitement when you're finally able to deliver it."

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