SAFA ready to implement CAF standards in PSL

SAFA ready to implement CAF standards in PSL

SAFA Technical Director Walter Steenbok says the implementation of CAF club licensing coaching standards could be done as early as next season. 

In an exclusive interview with SABC Sport, Steenbok said the CAF A licensing coach course, which will be getting underway in Johannesburg in December, is giving them a push to introduce coaching standards across the PSL, Hollywoodbets Super League and SAFA-governed amateur structures.

Currently in CAF inter-club competitions, head coaches are required to hold CAF A coaching licenses and assistant coaches CAF B licenses to be able to sit on the bench.

Head coaches that have qualifications from outside Africa are required to have Pro-License coaching badges from the confederations where they completed the courses.

Steenbok believes the fact that there are now more than 370 CAF A licensed coaches under SAFA allows them time to roll out the new standards. 

œI think we are ready to implement CAF club licensing coaching regulations in South Africa. We have 371 CAF A licensed coaches, a total of 1 212 CAF B licensed coaches, and 52 coaches who have been trained at SAFA Pro license level, Steenbok tells SABC Sport.

œWe also have 100 SAFA and CAF instructors, 10 000 C license coaches, and 12 000 at D license.

œSouth Africa has enough qualified coaches, we are ready to implement. We are ready to roll it out because we have enough numbers. 

œWe are meeting the technical committee next week and these are the suggestions that will come in the development plan.

Already, SA is behind countries like Botswana, Zambia, and Lesotho in the COSAFA region when it comes to the implementation of these CAF club licensing coaching regulations. 

œIf you divide 400 by 32 clubs - 16 in the Premier Division and 16 in the National First Division - it gives you close to 12.5, meaning South Africa has 13 coaches per team in the Premier Soccer League and also in the NFD.

With some coaches both in the PSL and NFD not having the required coaching licenses or even applied for the current coaching courses, it remains to be seen how the PSL would react to the implementation of the new standards.

By Velile Mnyandu