African Technical Heads Propose World Wide Coaching License

Technical Directors representing 17 African Football Associations have tabled a motion to world governing body FIFA to synchronise coaching licenses worldwide.

The motion was tabled after a meeting during the recently FIFA organized four-day course for General Secretaries and Technical Directors in Accra.

The Technical Director of the Ghana Football Association, Francis Oti Akenteng, told footyghana.com that the proposals will eventually require any foreign coach to hold a coaching licence endorsed by the Confederation of African Football before working in any African country.

‘What we are proposing is for the various coaching licenses around the world to be synchronized so that all licences become valid worldwide after endorsement from each continental football governing body. So for instance, before a foreign coach can work in Africa, he has to have a license accepted by CAF before he can proceed.’

Oti Akenteng also told footyghana.com that the proposal has come about because of CAF’s increasing worry over the influx of foreign coaches into the continent.

‘I can tell you that CAF top officials are not happy that many countries employ the services of foreign coaches because indigenous coaches have done well when given the chance. So the proposal is a first step in gradually limiting the influx of foreign coaches to our continent and at the same time giving our indigenous coaches licenses that are equivalent to those held on other continents, particularly Europe.’

FIFA is to study the proposal, before a decision is taken on whether to ratify it.