Coaches who successfully completed the CAF/SAFA D license last weekend.
By: Refilwe Sebola
The CAF/SAFA D license coaching course held in the Mopani Region was a great success despite facing various challenges.
A total of 35 coaches from the ABC Motsepe League and the Hollywoodbets regional league participated in the course at Tivumbeni College in Nkowankowa, with 30 coaches successfully completing it.
Notable participants included coaches from ABC Motsepe league teams such as Thlothlokwe Golden Syrup, Maruleng Celtics, and Nkowankowa Continental, as well as coaches from HollywoodBets league clubs including Phalaborwa United and Phalaborwa Fast Eleven, who involved their entire technical team.
Female coaches and administrators also notably attended the course, including Tsholofelo Bulala, the coordinator of the Giyani Youth Premier League, Beatrice Tshabalala, assistant coach at Vakhegulavakhegula, and coach Lizzy from Phalaborwa Fast Eleven.
The program’s highlight was a soccer festival for young players, which attracted approximately 86 participants, including 20 girls. This festival, held at Nkowankowa Stadium on the program’s final day, provided young players with professional training under the guidance of the coaches.
In December 2023, SAFA announced new coaching regulations that were supposed to be imposed at the beginning of the season in August. Coaches in the ABC Motsepe League, Hollywood Regional League, and Hollywood Women’s Super League are required to have a CAF C license coaching certificate, while coaches in the USSA/Varsity Cup must hold a CAF B License. However, SAFA has not yet clarified whether the rules will be implemented this year or not.
Mohale Ramphao, the SAFA Mopani regional president, expressed his delight at the course’s success and extended gratitude to the Regional Executive Committee (REC) and clubs for their steadfast support. He also thanked the successful course participants and the parents of the players for entrusting their children to the soccer festival program despite the cold weather.
Tsholofelo Bulala was one of the female administrators and coaches who attended the SAFA/CAF D license coaching course
Young players attended the soccer festival in the last day of the coaching course