BFA policy decisions must be consistent

Mqondisi Dube | Tuesday June 30, 2026 11:23

The BFA has announced, and then back-tracked on the issue of foreign players quota in the Premier League and the minimum coaching qualifications required for the elite competition. Policy reviews are a key part of the ever evolving game, with the decisions made in the best interest of all stakeholders. The ultimate aim of the two decisions is to improve the quality and pool of local players as well as increase elite competition, respectively.

Last month, the BFA announced that from next season, clubs will only be allowed to field three foreign nationals, while also being forced to feature junior players.

But the decision did not last hours, as the association was made to climb down, after a reminder that the policy was to effect at the start of the 2027-2028 season.

Then last week, BFA president, Tariq Babitseng announced that only licence A local coaches will be allowed in the dug-out for Premier League teams, while their foreign counterparts needed to hold a higher qualification.

But again, this decision did not last long as it was rescinded at the weekend, with the new law now expected to take effect at the beginning of the 2027-2028 campaign.

While policy reviews are a normal part of football administration, the manner in which these decisions were announced and later reversed exposes avoidable inconsistencies.

The two policies directly affect clubs' recruitment strategies and should therefore, be decisive in nature. The FNB Premiership attracts talent, both on the bench and field, from across the continent and making inconsistent announcements should be avoided at all costs.

For instance, it baffles the mind how the policy on the foreign quota was publicly announced, contrary to a document, authored by the same BFA last year. It is these small details that need attention as they have the potential to portray the association in bad light.

Clubs make financial and other decisions months in advance. Whether recruiting foreign players or appointing coaches, they require certainty. Constant shifts in policy make planning difficult and can weaken confidence among sponsors, investors and supporters.

Hopefully, the BFA has learnt its lessons from the two incidents and will be more thorough going forward. The other issue that needs close scrutiny is the intended introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

While sounding noble, the exercise can be financially draining in an environment where the basics like paying referees is still a challenge. VAR can enhance decision making, but at the moment in the list of priorities, it can wait until the 'base' has been sorted.