Banyana Banyana assistant coach Thinasonke Mbuli is in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia attending a women’s football coaching workshop which is a collaboration between CAF and the Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF).
With the theme, “High-Level Women’s Training Workshop”, the workshop aims to increase the diversity of genders in the field of training by helping coaches to excel and stay involved in football training.
The event is attended by a total of 32 coaches – 16 national team coaches from the African continent as well as 16 from SAFF.
It aims to enhance the knowledge and skills of women’s coaches coaching senior or junior women’s national teams as either head or assistant coaches.
Hailing from the COSAFA region and joining Mbuli at the workshop are Gaoletlhoo Nkutlwisan (Botswana), Uerikondjera Mammie Kasaona (Namibia), Naomi phiri (Zambia), Florence Nkatya Mwila (Zambia).
“I got an invite from CAF, and the workshop is open to all the assistant coaches of national women’s teams. I think this is one of the ways CAF is trying to assist us in terms of gaining knowledge and just to equip us with the advanced coaching knowledge, because if you look at the panel of the coaches that are going to present here, it shows that they really want to help us in closing the gap between us and the rest of the world. It’s going to be a lot of information sharing,” said Mbuli from Riyadh.
“We are going to deal with a lot of different topics – like today we had a guy from Barcelona, Raul, who is the head of sport technology, and he was teaching us the importance of the data and the importance of technology that coaches need in terms of improving players, be at training or on match day. So yes, it’s the kind of topics that are relevant to the game, and very important but we don’t usually talk about. We spent about two and a half hours talking the about importance of technology and analysis in football, so I’m really looking forward to it and I am certain I am going to learn something to take back home.”
The ininiative is part of CAF and SAFF’ MoU signed last year by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe and SAFF Presient Yasser Al Misehal to raise football competitive levels and develop skills for football administrators.
“The workshop aims to foster a sense of community and promote interaction between coaches in Africa and Saudi Arabia. It reiterates CAF’s commitment to increasing gender diversity in coaching,” said CAF in a statement.
CAF’s Head of Women’s Football, Meskerem Tadesse Goshime had this to say:
“We believe this workshop is a testament to CAF’s commitment to ensuring women have opportunities to succeed in the sport, and it emphasizes CAF’s and SAFF’s dedication to fair opportunities and inclusivity. We are offering a unique opportunity to women’s national team head or assistant coaches who hold CAF B and above license credentials. The workshop aims to improve their knowledge beyond the technical and tactical aspects of the game, focusing on team management, leadership, communication, physical fitness, and training women as a women’s topic. It is a way to motivate these coaches and give them the recognition they deserve from us and their respective MAs. We hope to see them grow and take more on leadership roles in their coaching careers.”
Also in attendance is multi-award winning Banyana Banyana head coach, Dr Desiree Ellis, who forms part of the panel.
‘’I think that many women’s coaches look to the achievements of the Women’s National Team of South Africa for inspiration. We have faced challenges that others may be only experiencing now. Through this workshop, we can offer help and support to them because ultimately, it’s not just about South Africa but about the entire continent. We inspire each other by who we are and what we do. Look at Gaoletlhoo Nkutlwisan, she is the first coach to take Botswana to WAFCON. Whatever they achieve, they are already inspiring someone else,” said Dr Ellis.
The training workshop began on Tuesday (14 May 2024) and is set to run until Saturday 18 May 2024). Among other things, it will focus on the following:
- The Periodization of physical condition
- How to build your team (Talent Identification)
- Leadership and communication
- Women’s health and injury prevention
- Mental training
- Analysis (team, opposite action plan)
The list of participating African coaches includes:
Gaoletlhoo Nkutlwisang (Botswana), Ininahazwe Belyse (Burundi), Simephi Mamba (Eswatini), Bernice Adutumwaa Kyeremeh (Ghana), Jackline Juma (Kenya), Beldine Lilian Odemba (Kenya), Elizabeth Yelimala (Lesotho), Selamawit Zeray (Liberia), Kebeh G. Lamine (Liberia), Uerikondjera Mammie Kasaona (Namibia), Adanna Gloria Nwanire (Nigeria), Thinasonke Mbuli (South Africa), Kaï Tomety (Togo), Ahumuza Colines (Uganda), Naomi phiri (Zambia), Florence Nkatya Mwila (Zambia)
By Matlhomola Morake
