22 coaches enrol for CAF-A Licence course

MASERU – The much-awaited CAF A-License coaching course is underway at Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena, and 22 coaches will be hoping to get their hands on the second highest coaching qualification on the continent.

The last time the Lesotho Football Association (LEFA) held the course was in 2016 and this qualification allows a coach to take charge of clubs in CAF’s continental competitions such as the CAF Champions League.

Matlama head coach Mothobi Molebatsi is amongst the candidates and if this course had been held earlier in the year, he would have been able to sit on the bench in Matlama’s Champions League games.

For a coveted licence, one would imagine it would be a costly exercise, but it cost the coaches a measly M1 500 to enrol with LEFA subsidising the course with an amount of M360 000. LEFA are basically handing the CAF A-License out for free.

Speaking at the opening ceremony on Monday, the association’s secretary general, Mokhosi Mohapi, told the coaches that having the A-Licence does not make them better than other coaches but it means they progressed quicker.

“If you get an A-License tomorrow it should be because you are going to show the world that you are a graduate of the second highest qualification as offered by the football body. It doesn’t mean that because you have an A-Licence you are better than anyone else, it means you have progressed quicker than them,” Mohapi said.

“Go and use your qualifications and they say, keep your head, that’s important. I know after these qualifications they are going to go back to their teams and say we are bigger than the teams and see if they will be coaching at the end of the season. I am not saying you should undersell yourselves but know the environment you are operating in and be able to contribute to the growth of football,” Mohapi added.

The course will run for 30 days in three segments of ten days, between each segment there is a four-week internship. Of the 22 coaches, 16 of them are not members of the doomed coaching association that is divided into two camps.

When Mohapi asked those who are not members to stand, it was clear where that was going. Lo and behold, he berated the non-members and said they should not be included in the second portion of the course.

Ironically, Motolo Makepe who is the association’s employee and head coach of the national Under-17 was among the non-members.

“Why do we hold courses for people who are not our members?” he asked Lehlohonolo Thotanyana who serves as the association’s education officer.

“Isn’t it worrying that we are taking our money and spending it on people who are not our members, and now we are busy recruiting coaches so that we can have a coach’s cadre where we can talk about real football issues from a coaching perspective,” he said.

The coaches undertaking the A-Licence course are: Tšepo Hlojeng, Motolo Makepe, James Madidilane, Motlalepula Majoro, Motlatsi Maseela, Motebang Makhetha, Nahanelo Sthonga, Lehlohonolo Ntene, Matsoai Shokhoe, Teboho Massa, Tšepo Mokhele, Tiisetso Molete, Mahlomola Matšoara, Motlatsi Thibinyane, Thabile Secker, Mothobi Molebatsi, Thulo Leboela, Teboho Kokome, Masupha Letsie, Lepanya Borotho, Kenny Mohoanyane and Mampe Letlatsa

Tlalane Phahla