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CAF coaching course delays further

Over 70 CAF-C licence coaches will have to wait longer to attain the CAF B badge, which is a minimum requirement to be head coach for a TNM Super League club.

This follows Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision that affiliates, including Football Association of Malawi (FAM) should scrutinise and endorse a new coaching course outline before applying for the next course.

Flashback: Participants from the recent FAM-C coaching course

The coaches have  waited for over two years to earn the badge and the course was postponed twice in 2018 after CAF came up with a new syllabus following the introduction of the elite pro-coaching licence.

But FAM technical director John Kaputa has admitted there will be further delay as CAF has just sent them 48-page conversion forms to fill and assert the new syllabus before the conducting the next course can be considered.

“CAF sent the documents to all member associations in Africa last week. They want each country to indicate whether they accept the syllabus changes or there are areas that need further modifications,” he said.

“This will require ample time to check item by item before we can sign and send it back to CAF. Once the continental body gets the feedback, they will decide on the next move.”

When asked if it is possible to have the course this year, Kaputa said: ‘‘Once everything is set, the  CAF-B licence course will be a priority”.

FAM technical development officer Benjamin Kumwenda said the country has 106 CAF C, five CAF B and 53 CAF A coaches; statistics that make conducting of the CAF B course, a priority.

Nevertheless, among the highly-qualified coaches, not more than 10 have the experience of coaching in the top-flight league.

The development makes it difficult for clubs or the national teams to do away with under-qualified mentors that were demoted despite being successful and having vast experience than most qualified coaches since the introduction of CAF B as a required standard for elite league coaches two seasons ago.

Flames assistant coach LovemoreFazili, Be Forward Wanderers assistant coaches Oscar Kaunda and Albert Mpinganjira, Nyasa Big Bullets assistant coach Peter Mponda, Civil Sporting Club assistant coach Elia Kananji and Kamuzu Barracks assistant coach Temwa Msuku are some of the victims.

Fazili said he was uncomfortable to comment on the development,  while Kaunda said the delays negatively affect them.

“Had it been that such courses are offered elsewhere apart from the football governing bodies, we could have attended parallel courses. Nevertheless, we just accept whatever comes and we will continue waiting,” Kaunda said.

Soccer analyst George KaudzaMasina said it is unfortunate that the courses are taking too long to be conducted.

However, he said it is essential that the course outline has to be scrutinised and endorsed.

Despite that, he blamed qualified coaches for being dormant when they are supposed to fill into the gaps created by the recent introduction of minimum qualification for Super League coaches.

“Malawi has more than enough qualified coaches with CAF A and B badges, who are unfortunately dormant. The challenge is that most of them do not have confidence to attach themselves to clubs,” he said.

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