First CAF A licence held for local coaches
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday October 12, 2018 12:39
The training is the first of its kind to be conducted in the country as the BFA moves to plug the coaching skills gap. There are only three local coaches who hold the CAF A licence.
Speaking at the official opening of the programme on Wednesday, instructor and BFA technical director, Serame Letsoaka said there is need for coaches to be equipped with skills, as the BFA takes steps towards a professional league.
“You can have the children but if you do not have the equipped teachers, we are not going anywhere. So we should have the teachers with all the skills needed to drill these children. We only had coaches with a B licence and they are only equipped to coach advanced amateurs.
These are the people that we will help to develop.
Some even coach in the Premier League hence why today we are holding an A licence course. It will give the coaches the skills to coach professional footballers,” said Letsoaka, who is a licensed FIFA and CAF instructor.
BFA chief executive officer, Mfolo Mfolo said the training will help develop the type of football played in the elite league thus helping performance of the national team in the long run.
“You are here to acquire technical methods that we expect to be put into practice. With the skills that you will acquire here, we will rely on you to impose them at your teams and make sure that our national team is strong.
“Expectations are that we are beginning a new leaf, we open new opportunities for Botswana football to be recognised continentally. As a country, we haven’t been performing well on the international stage, I believe with the journey we are starting, we will do better,” he said. Mfolo added that the development of players is as important as that of trainers as it is the BFA’s primary role to oversee the nurturing of skills for the coaches and the youngsters.
A total of 26 coaches who ply their trade in the BTC Premiership and the First National Division leagues are attending the course.
Amongst the coaches attending are Under-23 coach Mogomotsi Mpote, Itumeleng Duckier (Mochudi Centre Chiefs), Keitumetse ‘Pio’ Paul (Notwane), Gadimang Tiiso (Sankoyo Bush Bucks), Enosi Mmesi (Extension Gunners), Raizor Tsatsilebe (Sharps Shooting Stars), and Matshidiso Moseki of Jwaneng Galaxy.
Prior to the course, new Gaborone United coach Phillimon Makhwengwe was one of the three local coaches to hold a CAF A licence.