Football: Confédération Africaine de Football (Caf) License C coaching course |27 January 2024

The accompanying photos show the different phases of the third module of the course

Nine potential coaches complete Caf Licence C Module III

Depending on the outcome of their final written examination, nine potential coaches will soon be awarded their Confédération Africaine de Football (Caf) License C, after completing the third and last module of the coaching course which they started last year.

The first module of the coaching course began in August last year with 16 participants, while module two was conducted in November.

For the third and final module which began earlier this month, only nine out 16 initial participants completed.

The training is in line with the plan of the Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) to produce more technical human resource for the game of football in the country through its capacity building programmed, while equipping football coaches with more professionalism.

It is also to ensure a steady raise in the quality level of coaching locally and to guarantee that all coaches possess the relevant license to perform their duties.

The Caf has instituted a licensing system which will force coaches to fulfill some criteria before coaching locally or/and in Africa and coaches must hold either a management diploma (managers) or a Caf A License also called Caf Pro licence, with the license C being the next phase.

The licensing programme seeks to set and promote benchmarks regarding coaching on the continent and help recognise African coaches for their knowledge and experience.

Its key objectives is to ensure that each African coach or any coach operating in Africa possess the relevant license to perform his or her duties.

During the training, conducted by technical director – directeur technique national (DTN) – Osama Haroun, with the help of Jim Louis and Michel Renaud, the participants were taken through theory and practical sessions.

Following their final written examination yesterday, the potential Licence C coaches were met by the SFF’s vice-president Dolor Ernesta and chief executive Denis Rose.

Mr Rose reminded the participants to inform and guide their peers on the ongoing transformation and new ways of doing things in the sport.

He said, as the new generation of coaches, it is their duty to promote the evolution in football, thus minimising the existing confusion due to lack of recent knowledge by some who remained stagnant over the years.

This, he said, will help to put everyone on the same page, going forward, in pushing Seychelles’ football forward.

On his part, Mr Ernesta said coaching is a career with a beginning but no end.

He said, as they grow further within coaching, they will come across new development, in terms of strategies, and technologies which will help them to further develop as a coach.

Mr Ernesta further added that the most important characteristic of a coach is the motivation to inspire, stimulate and encourage players, especially the younger ones, instilling and promoting the proper mindset among them, steering them towards the necessary behaviour and discipline required becoming exemplary footballers.

He said it is crucial for a coach to have the ability, skill and knowledge to turn 11 individuals into one unit, or a team, to play on a field.

Former St Michel and Seychelles international Alex Nibourette, who has now taken coaching duties with his former club, said the training has completely transformed his way of seeing things, or perspective on the coaching aspect of football.

He said, as a former player, he entered coaching with the same attitude, and it was only after starting the training that he realised he was venturing in a totally different environment.

Nibourette also noted that the training introduced him to various strategies and ways of doing things that were not being practiced by coaches during his playing time.

Jeffery Paul, who is part of Championship side Bel Air’s coaching staff, said the training has introduced him to many new elements which he is looking forward to put into practice, especially with the younger members of the team as they are the future of Seychelles’ football.

Mr Haroun said based on performances during the three modules, after the correction of written assessments, all the nine participants will be awarded their Licence C, as they have all performed very well during the training.

He said, compared to the past, where people were awarded licences based on attendance, from now on, everyone will have to work hard to be accredited.

Roland Duval