Cosafa coaches form association

The association has three countries in the secretariat at the moment who were tasked with coming up with a constitution by next November.
Bernardo Fernando Mabuiye said South Africa and Swaziland had been tasked to assist   with coming up with the constitution while the former will also do the marketing for the association.
“We want to bring the coaches from the Cosafa region together under one umbrella association. There are some countries that do not have local associations and we are hoping that they would have set structures by the time we have our first elections,” he said.

The first elections will be held next year after the constitution has been completed.
Mabuiye said the association was meant to be for everyone regardless of the team that they coach.
“We will not be separating the coaches. The association is for all those who will be affiliated at their local associations. We want to protect the integrity of the coaches,” he said.

Mabuiye said they were going to work with  local associations to come up with the constitution that will suit all the countries in the Cosafa  region.
“We would have to emphasise that countries that do not have associations should form them. It would be difficult for their coaches to affiliate to the Cosafa Coaches Association without them having their own associations in their countries,” he said.

Mabuiye said their aim was not to interfere with the way football associations run their programmes but they were there to assist the coaches in case they have problems.
“We want to start from the basics of football and work with the coach if their association is affiliated with us. We are not there to tell the associations what to do and what not to do,” he said.
He said they wanted help in mediating in problems that affect coaches within the Southern African region.

“We are going to help mediate in problems that affect the coaches. If the case is not sorted out in their country and they approach us, then we will form a special disciplinary committee to mediate and help find a solution for both parties,” said Mabuiye.

The Mozambican national said they were still to elect the other members of the association   and at the moment their association is not sponsored.
“We would have to look for a sponsor because we will be self-funded but affiliated to the mother body, Cosafa,” he said .

Mabuiye said the three countries that have been tasked to come up with the constitution will work until next year in November when they have their first meeting before the Under-17 Cosafa tournament to be held in Zambia.
Zimbabwe has the Zimbabwe Soccer Coaches Association which looks into the affairs of the gaffers.