Help SA coaches - Steve Komphela’s plea to SAFCA

Looking back at the recent situation at his former club (Swallows), Komphela says it was not only players who were affected by the off-the-field administrative issues but the coaches too.

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He says, as the South African Football Players Union (SAFPU) was playing its role in solving the situation, he started thinking about the whereabouts of SAFCA.

''When there were issues even at Moroka Swallows, we saw the players union trying to assist the club to resolve the matter, but we forgot that there was a group of coaches and technicians in there.

 "I said at the back of my mind - I wonder where is the coaches union, the association of coaches must not only be there for political reasons and agendas,'' said Komphela.

 Komphela is not the first coach to raise important points about the need for coaches’ representation, not only when there are disputes in the game but also on advancing the game. 

In November last year, during the start of the CAF A License coaching course, Supersport United head coach Gavin Hunt raised similar points. Currently, with some insults and unsavory words flying around publicly between PSL coaches, Komphela says it’s unfortunate that an important organization like SAFCA, has gone quiet.

  ''The biggest problem is that these technicians are looking to become politicians, it is wrong, they have made life so blurry that they can't separate issues. They should learn to become the mediator, the person who calms the fires,'' added Komphela.

Hunt and Komphela, are currently the longest-serving head coaches, who are active in the professional domestic game.

 SAFCA are also one of the South African Football Association’s (SAFA’s) associate members with voting powers at their elective congress. Komphela says their area of focus should extend beyond politics.

''When are you going to see them? when it's time to vote. Don't only participate in politics but also in matters that involve the technicians,'' he concluded.

The current SAFCA administration is led by former Banyana Banyana head coach Greg Mashilo, who was re-elected in 2020. 

To influence positive change in the local game technically, Komphela also suggested that SAFCA should be helping the Technical Director and Coaching Education office at SAFA, to organize seminars that will influence and improve coaching and technical vision in the country.