The Confederation of African Football (Caf) A-coaching course has commenced at Mpira Village in Blantyre City, Malawi, with 25 participants in attendance. Notable coaches, including Lovemore Fazili, coach of the Malawi Women's National Football Team, and Peter Mponda, coach of Masters Football Club, are among those taking part. The course, which began yesterday, marks the return of the advanced coaching programme after a 10-year hiatus.
The course has attracted high-profile names, including Joseph Kamwendo, assistant coach of Caps United, and Pritchard Mwansa, assistant coach of the Flames. Other participants include Enos Chatama, coach of the Malawi Under-20 National Football Team, Oscar Kaunda, coach of Luanar Mitundu, and Peter Mgangira, former coach of Silver Strikers. The course is a significant development for local coaches, who have been waiting for 10 years to upgrade their badges.
The Caf A coaching licence is a minimum requirement for African coaches to lead national teams at Caf and Fifa competitions. Currently, Lovemore Fazili does not possess a Caf A-coaching licence, which has led to the Football Association of Malawi (Fam) announcing plans to hire a new coach to lead the Scorchers at the 2027 Fifa Women's World Cup in Brazil. The course is an essential step towards strengthening coaching education and developing highly qualified coaches.
Four female coaches, Carolyne Phiri, Chisomo Nkhoma, Linda Kasenda, and Karen Chawula, are among the participants. Sports analyst James Jemar Majawa noted that acquiring the Caf A qualification will help address the challenges local coaches without the qualification have faced in securing technical positions at higher levels of the game. The course is a welcome development for local coaches, who can now pursue higher-level coaching opportunities.
The Football Association of Malawi (Fam) last hosted the Caf A-coaching course in 2016, after which Caf directed member associations to suspend existing coaching courses and develop customised coaching manuals. The return of the course marks an important step in enhancing coaching education and producing highly qualified coaches capable of contributing to football development at both domestic and international levels.
According to a Fam statement, the commencement of the course is an important step in strengthening coaching education and developing highly qualified coaches. The course will provide coaches with the necessary credentials to pursue higher-level coaching opportunities. Analyst James Jemar Majawa believes that acquiring the qualification will help local coaches address the challenges they have faced in securing technical positions.
The course is expected to have a positive impact on football development in Malawi, as local coaches upgrade their skills and qualifications. With the Caf A coaching licence, Malawian coaches will be eligible to lead national teams at Caf and Fifa competitions. The course has been welcomed by the football community, with many stakeholders expressing hope that it will contribute to the growth and development of football in Malawi.
Key points
- The Caf A-coaching course has commenced in Malawi, with 25 participants in attendance.
- The course marks the return of the advanced coaching programme after a 10-year hiatus.
- The Caf A coaching licence is a minimum requirement for African coaches to lead national teams at Caf and Fifa competitions.
