Africa’s football governing body (CAF) has reacted to the ongoing impasse between the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) and the country’s Sports ministry over the eligibility of who is qualified to coach the country’s national team, Leone Stars.
Earlier, the Sports Minister appointed Atto Mensah and former Leone Stars Captain, John Sama as Head coach and assistant respectively but the Football Association frowned on the appoint saying both men failed to meet the license requirement of CAF.
In a bid for proper clarification, African Sports Media Network’s Sahr Morris Jr. contacted CAF on the issue and in an exclusive interview with the CAF Director of football development division Abdel Moneim Hussein Shatta through the association’s media director, Junior Binyam said Coaches appointed for national teams must be holders of a valid license.
He noted that the coaching license policy in Africa was implemented last year to all inter club competitions and CAF tournaments.
Earlier, the Sports Minister appointed Atto Mensah and former Leone Stars Captain, John Sama as Head coach and assistant respectively but the Football Association frowned on the appoint saying both men failed to meet the license requirement of CAF.
In a bid for proper clarification, African Sports Media Network’s Sahr Morris Jr. contacted CAF on the issue and in an exclusive interview with the CAF Director of football development division Abdel Moneim Hussein Shatta through the association’s media director, Junior Binyam said Coaches appointed for national teams must be holders of a valid license.
He noted that the coaching license policy in Africa was implemented last year to all inter club competitions and CAF tournaments.
Shatta stated: “Dear junior, the coaching license policy was applied last year to all inter club competitions and to CAF tournaments. Coaches without CAF " C " license will not be allowed to enter the field of play.”
“As for national teams all foreign coaches must have a CAF license too. Confederation licenses must be recognized by CAF through an equivalence system decided by the technical committee.”
The CAF Director of football development further revealed that the level of the coaching license is still on its first level " C " and they will raised it to"B " next year then to "A" later adding that CAF "C" license is equal to "B" and "B" is equal to "A" for foreign license levels.
“CAF is very keen that any foreign coach who is contracted must have the best grade in order to raise the level of the game in the member associations. They must be assessed to decide their competence. As the CAF technical director I don't advise national teams to contract foreign coaches having less than a PRO license which is equivalent to CAF "A" coaching license.” Shatta said.
Meanwhile, the SLFA continues to kick against Mensah’s appointment on the note that his UEFA B diploma acquired in Holland 2013 fails to meet the CAF requirement.
According to Carla Oudijk, a member of the Dutch Football Association academy- where Mensah secured his UEFA B License, it is left with CAF or FIFA to decide whiter the equivalent of UEFA B License is appropriate to coach a national team.
The correspondence reads: “As you probably know, the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) is a member of UEFA. According to UEFA guidelines, it is not possible to work as head coach of a national team with UEFA B diploma; therefore you need to have the UEFA Pro diploma.”
“Your association is a member of FIFA and CAF. This means in our opinion it is up to you to decide whether the equivalent of UEFA B License is appropriate to coach your national team.”
“As for national teams all foreign coaches must have a CAF license too. Confederation licenses must be recognized by CAF through an equivalence system decided by the technical committee.”
The CAF Director of football development further revealed that the level of the coaching license is still on its first level " C " and they will raised it to"B " next year then to "A" later adding that CAF "C" license is equal to "B" and "B" is equal to "A" for foreign license levels.
“CAF is very keen that any foreign coach who is contracted must have the best grade in order to raise the level of the game in the member associations. They must be assessed to decide their competence. As the CAF technical director I don't advise national teams to contract foreign coaches having less than a PRO license which is equivalent to CAF "A" coaching license.” Shatta said.
Meanwhile, the SLFA continues to kick against Mensah’s appointment on the note that his UEFA B diploma acquired in Holland 2013 fails to meet the CAF requirement.
According to Carla Oudijk, a member of the Dutch Football Association academy- where Mensah secured his UEFA B License, it is left with CAF or FIFA to decide whiter the equivalent of UEFA B License is appropriate to coach a national team.
The correspondence reads: “As you probably know, the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) is a member of UEFA. According to UEFA guidelines, it is not possible to work as head coach of a national team with UEFA B diploma; therefore you need to have the UEFA Pro diploma.”
“Your association is a member of FIFA and CAF. This means in our opinion it is up to you to decide whether the equivalent of UEFA B License is appropriate to coach your national team.”
By: Sahr Morris Jr.
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