SAFA approves implementation of coaching standards in SA from 2024/2025 season

This was confirmed by South African Football Association (SAFA) Vice-President Linda Zwane after the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at SAFA House on Saturday.

SAFA was lagging behind countries like Botswana, Lesotho, and Zambia in the Southern African region, which had already implemented these regulations.

But following the return of the CAF A and B license coaching courses, after SA was finally accepted into the CAF coaching convention, this cleared the way for the local football authorities to forge ahead with their plans.

In November, SAFA started the CAF A license coaching course, with more than 25 coaches enrolling for it, including top Premier Soccer League (PSL) coaches like SuperSport United’s Gavin Hunt, Cape Town City’s Eric Tinkler and Steve Barker of Stellenbosch FC.

They have already completed the first phase and will resume with the second phase in January 2024, continue with the third phase in March 2024, and wrap up with the fourth phase in June 2024.

SAFA is expected to roll out CAF B license coaching courses in different regions in 2024.

This will be in time for the implementation of the coaching standards when the season commences in August 2024.

Zwane, who recently told SABC Sport that they had planned to introduce these coaching standards in 2025, revealed on Saturday that the NEC has resolved to implement the resolutions in all the divisions for the 2024/2025 season.

“Finally, the resolution has been passed that the regulations on the coaching standards must be implemented from the PSL going down.

“The plan is clear from the PSL going down to the Local Football Associations (LFA), there are clear prescripts now in the regulations, South Africa must be able to accept that, because it is going to assist football development at that level,” Zwane confirmed the decision taken.

At CAF inter-club competitions, a head coach needs to have a CAF A license to be able to sit on the bench or a Pro License from a sister confederation (UEFA Pro), if the qualification is from outside the continent. A CAF B license is required from an assistant coach to be allowed to sit on the bench.

Zwane confirms that they would also be implementing similar regulations at the elite level.

“We have agreed that from the 2024/2025 season, a coach at PSL must have a CAF A license, and an assistant coach must have a CAF B license. At the National First Division (NFD) level, it’s also CAF A license for the head coach and also CAF B license for the assistant coaches.

“It also goes down to the ABC Motsepe League, the Hollywoodbets Regional Leagues, LFA’s, and the Hollywoodbets Super League. All the divisions are going to be regulated, including the Universities,” said Zwane.

The issue of coaching badges was a big talking point earlier this year when SAFA Technical Director Walter Steenbok raised it and warned that they would soon be implementing it.

“When the TD raised the matter during our last congress, he received serious criticism, but we are clear that is our position. This year we are relaxed but as of next year (2024), this is what we want because now we are back in the CAF coaching convention.

“All we are saying is that at the highest level or elite level we cannot have mediocre, we must have a person of substance that we are all proud of,” concluded Zwane.

SAFA Club Licensing Coaching Badges:

Professional Leagues:

Premier Division & NFD:

CAF A & B Licenses from the 2024/2025 season

ABC Motsepe League:

Minimum CAF C License from the 2024/2025 season

Hollywoodbets Regional League:

Minimum CAF C License from the 2024/2025 season

USSA/Varsity Cup:

CAF B License from the 2024/2025 season

Hollywoodbets Super League (Women’s):

CAF C License from the 2024 season