Local coaches complete level A Caf coaching course certificate |01 September 2023
The four coaches in a souvenir photo with the instructors and SFF officials (Photo: Neil Sirame)
Four local coaches have received their certificates after following a Confederation of African Football coaching course for license A which began in February this year.
Donald Monnaie, Basil Hoareau, Gerard Bistoquet and Nicholas Simouri Carlos are the four coaches who have successfully completed the training after a total 18 were invited to attend the course.
Addressing the coaches during yesterday morning’s certificate presentation ceremony at the Maison Football, Roche Caïman, Seychelles Football Federation’s (SFF) vice president, Dolor Ernesta, said the fact that they have followed the course will help open doors for the development of football in Seychelles. “Having a good framework, different licenses and a handful of instructors will help us propel our sport forward,” said the SFF vice president.
He added that the bar is getting higher in African and world football, thus the necessity to organise courses such as the one they attended over the past months. “Those here present today are brave, devoted, passionate and have the courage to complete the Confederation of African Football (Caf) coaching course license level A,” said Mr Ernesta.
He mentioned that they are positively waiting for Caf to approve the coaches’ licenses which will be a huge leap for the SFF and its instructors, creating opportunities for them to host instructor training for level B license.
“We can all agree that learning does not stop by just completing a course or acquiring a certificate. There is still a lot of work to be done in Seychelles’ football and the four of you will be seen as inspiration for others who hold licenses D, C and B so that they are motivated to attempt the next level of training,” said Mr Ernesta.
He added that today in accordance to Caf’s regulations, if a head coach does not possess a grade A license he cannot sit in the dugout or be on the sidelines. “With this in mind, it is important for us to get as many instructors to undergo training,” said Mr Ernesta.
On behalf of SFF president Elvis Chetty and the football family, Mr Ernesta congratulated the four coaches who attended the five-month course. “It is hoped that Caf formalises the training we have just organised to bring African football to new heights,” he added.
As for instructor Ralph Jean-Louis, he said the training was of a very high level and it will surely influence other countries in the region to do the same. He said they are waiting for Caf’s feedback on whether or not the delegates’ license A will be approved and also if the course was governed accordingly.
“There is a saying that goes like this: ‘One must educate oneself before educating others’. Seeing your engagement and willingness throughout the course, you have been an inspiration by displaying the desire to learn,” said Jean-Louis.
The coach instructor mentioned that the Caf coaching course offered great tenacity, new equipments and tools to grasp and use so as to propel football in Seychelles forward. To conclude his address, instructor Jean-Louis also urged the four coaches to remain engaged in what they have learnt and to use the tools they have acquired to benefit their respective teams during the pre-season.
Speaking to Sports NATION, instructor Jean-Louis said the coaching course, which began in February, was divided into four modules and they received international cooperation whereby they showed the local coaches how to use certain equipment such as GPS, sports beeper and more.
Neil Sirame