SAFA blamed for coaching qualifications mess

Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi has blamed the country’s football mother body SAFA for the ongoing coaching qualifications mess.

He blames the federation for not facilitating enough coaching courses for local trainers. Sundowns co-coaches Rulani Mokwena and Mngqithi are the only local coaches leading South African clubs in CAF competitions with the right qualifications to sit on the bench.

Cape Town City coach Eric Tinkler, Royal AM duo Khabo Zondo and ex-coach Dan Malesela coached from the stands in CAF competitions because they don’t have requisite qualifications.

“Why don’t you take it to the federation? Why do you take it so narrow? Because coaches would like to have A Licences, there are no A Licences in the country,” Mngqithi told the media.

“There have been no A Licences probably after our era, the second group was the era of coach Rulani [Mokwena] that got the A Licence and when was that?

“The federation is comfortable with it, we are seeing our teams within our country who are competing in the continental space, not having their coaches on the bench, not because the coaches don’t want to study, but the courses are not there.”

Mngqithi further urged SAFA to introduce the coaching courses as clubs don’t have control.

“I would not want us to narrow it down to the seriousness of the clubs, because clubs don’t have the control. This one requires the federation to roll out as many courses to make sure our people have the right qualifications,” Mngqithi added.