SAFA emphasises grassroots level coaching

SAFA: Submitted by Sibusiso Mdlalose

South African Football Association (SAFA) is building future soccer stars today.

Technical Director of South African Football Coaches Association (SASFCA) and SAFA Amajuba Head of Coaching, Jeff Nkosi has emphasised the importance of proper coaching at youth level, in developing regional football at grassroots level.

Nkosi stepped in as chief instructor, alongside regional instructurs Nathi Gule and Delisile Mbatha at SASFCA’s Amajuba Off-Season Coaching Workshop, held at Majuba TVET College in Madadeni last weekend.

The workshop ran over two days.

More than 34 coaches from the Amajuba region of SAFA joined two guest coaches from SAFA Umzinyathi at the workshop, the first of its kind for the district.

At its conclusion, Nkosi called the workshop fruitful and well-timed.

“Its timing has been spot-on, because it was held during the off season when teams are not playing. The basis of everything is in youth development.”

Nkosi said both the Under-20 World Cup and FIFA Confederations Cup had highlighted the critical role played by veteran coaches, with particular regard to training junior teams to become future stars.

“It’s crucial to develop football at grassroots level because it’s where everything starts.”

Other coaches heaped similar praise on the workshop’s ideals.

32-year-old Thulani Mkhize, coach of Western Brothers FC from oSizweni, said young and ambitious coaches had learned much over the two days.

“I want to see myself grow and become one of the successful coaches hailing from this district. I’ve already attended an introductory coaching course, and my main aim now is to study further and develop myself into a better coach.”