Accra, Aug. 8, GNA – The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has set a minimum qualification of a CAF License B certificate for Premier League coaches effective next season.

The declaration will effectively rule out any coach without the second grade coaching license from sitting on the bench for a Premier League match when the new football season gets underway.

Kwesi Nyantakyi, GFA President who announced this during the Ordinary Congress of the Association last Friday, said the new directive is geared towards raising the standard of coaching in the elite division.

The move is also to ensure that only qualified coaches are in charge of the highest division of Ghana football.

It is also in conformity with an order by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) that states that only coaches certified by the Confederation will be allowed to work on the continent effective the 2012/2013 season.

Nyantakyi added that by the CAF’s directive, the highest license holding coaches are mandated to handle the top-most divisions and the national teams.

In the case of Ghana, the License B is the highest class, thereby serving the standard for the elite division.

The GFA President hinted that the minimum requirement will be reviewed in the event of the introduction of the License A and Pro-License in the immediate future.

Meanwhile, the move is likely not to affect the bulk of the Premier League coaches since most of them possess the CAF License ‘B’ Certificate.

This marks a departure from the previous practice where the Premier League accommodated coaches with no formal coaching training.

By the decision, Ghana becomes the first country to enforce the CAF Coaching Licensing policy.