BFA rejects Notwane coach
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Friday September 13, 2019 13:51
Notwane are without a head coach after Dragojlo Stanojlović ditched the club a few days before the start of the season to join new comers, Morupule Wanderers.
They immediately roped in former Zimbabwean national team player to replace Stanojlović. But their plan has reportedly hit a snag as the association refuses to give the move a green light.
According to the BFA, Mushangazhike is not qualified to head the technical team of any Premier League side since he does not have at least a CAF A Licence.
The former Black Forest coach currently holds a CAF B Licence. The BFA has said all foreign coaches should have a CAF A Licence while the local ones are required to hold B Licences before they can head any Premier League side’s technical team. The new requirement has since thrown Notwane’s season plans into jeopardy.
However, the club has vowed to engage the mother body on the issue and seek clarification. Their position is that Mushangazhike, having coached Black Forest last season has been on the BFA system and therefore should be allowed to coach with a B Licence like other foreign coaches who have been exempted over the same reason.
The club’s spokesperson, Mogomotsi Orapeleng said they could not comment much on the matter before they get a detailed explanation. However, BFA technical director, Serame Letsoaka said all Premier League clubs should be aware of the new requirement.
He said the BFA technical and development committee came up with ways in which they can improve the standard of football in the country of which the coaching licence requirement is one of them. This was put in the compliance manual, which the BFA NEC later approved. Letsoaka said after committee’s decision, all Premier League clubs were invited to a workshop so that they could be kept abreast with the new changes.
“Most of the clubs did not turn up for that workshop and we went with whoever was there. Unfortunately they (Notwane) still went ahead and brought someone who holds a B Licence,” he said.
He said it is true that they exempted other foreign coaches who currently do not meet the requirements. But added that it was purely on the basis that those coaches have running contracts with their current teams.
He however said the exempted coaches have been given a year to get the right credentials after which, all coaches will strictly be expected to meet requirement.
“After a year we will not exempt any coach, whether local or foreign who does not meet the new requirement whether they have a running contract with their respective clubs or not,” he said. In their first match of the season against Police XI, Notwane were under the tutelage of caretaker coach, Israel Molao. The club has since roped in Oupa Kowa as an assistant coach.
Kowa is expected to lead the team this weekend against Security Systems while the club seeks to find a solution to the head-coaching role. Notwane were recently docked points for non-compliance with the Club Licencing requirements together with three other Premier League sides, Extension Gunners, Molepolole City Stars and Gilport Lions.
Notwane have since filed an appeal regarding their punishment. They were docked six points and head into their second match of the season languishing at the bottom of the log standings with minus six points.