SAFA secures major boost in coaching education with appointment of top FIFA expert

This was confirmed to SABC Sport by SAFA Technical Director Molefi Ntseki, who revealed that it was critical they fill this role to ensure their coaching education programmes continue smoothly. The position was left vacant after Keneilwe “Maestro” Mathibela was recruited by FIFA last year, and Ntseki says they have now found an equally top-class administrator in Mall.

"We had it very tough with our technical division because we did not have enough experience in terms of making all the programs run smoothly," said Ntseki.

READ: Ntseki backs FIFA TDS programme comeback to widen U15-U17 talent search across the country

"With the advert that was put up for the head of coaches' education, coach Mall applied along with the other coaches . The interviews were conducted, and coach Zunaid, with his experience, I think we should remind ourselves of his background. He is the former technical director of Mauritius, and he is also a current FIFA instructor, so bringing in someone like that is beneficial."

"I think it also helps because we want to elevate ourselves to the FIFA level. When we have someone who is the head of coach education and is already at the FIFA level, it was important for us to go for someone like him. He brings vast experience in terms of coach education and has been a coach as well, so we are very happy to have him as part of our technical division."

In Mall, SAFA have found themselves a top technocrat who has worked for five years as the TD of Mauritius and is also a FIFA Instructor on the African continent. But he is also happy to be back home serving his country.

Mall has also worked at COSAFA, where he headed their coaching and Technical Study Group (TSG) programmes, and has been involved in the coaching education space for over three decades. 

Mall returns to the country at the right time, when SAFA is fully back to the CAF coaching convention, with the CAF A and B coaching licenses courses in full swing throughout the country. He says, the aim now is to drive more coaching courses up to the FIFA special courses.

One of the outstanding coaching courses now under the SAFA coaching education programme is the CAF Pro license, which has until now been offered only in North Africa. But Mall says plans are in place to ensure that this also reaches these shores.