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POINTS DEDUCTION FOR COACHLESS TEAMS

22/09/2024 16:21:00 Sanele Jele

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MBABANE – Teams operating without appointed coaches are poised for a rude awakening.

The Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) has tightened regulations to ensure compliance among all football clubs. Article 6 of the 2024/25 MTN Premier League Rules and Regulations stipulates that all clubs must employ qualified football coaches, in line with the standards set forth in the Coaching Regulations, as well as any compulsory directives issued by the Eswatini Football Association (EFA). A club that knowingly engages a coach who fails to meet the licensing requirements will face a fine of not less than E15 000 for a first offence. Should the violation occur a second or subsequent time during the season, the penalty escalates to a minimum of E25 000.

Additionally, Article 6(k) allows teams that lose their head coach mid-season a grace period of one match to secure a replacement. However, during this interval, the club is required to appoint a qualified acting coach, whose application for temporary status must comply with EFA coaching qualifications, similar to that of a formally appointed coach. The regulations further mandate that, following the grace period, failure to secure an appropriately licensed coach will result in points deductions for the offending team, continuing until a compliant coach is appointed. Each participating club is responsible for ensuring adequate insurance coverage for its team delegation and any individuals acting on its behalf against a spectrum of risks, including injury, accidents, illnesses and travel-related issues.

Required

All Premier League coaches, whether head coaches or assistants, are required to possess a minimum of the EFA Diploma Coaching Certificate and must be members of the EFA through a recognised Coaches Association to be licensed and eligible to occupy the Technical Area during official matches for the 2024/2025 season. Fitness and goalkeeper coaches must also hold basic certificates in physical conditioning or their respective areas. In addition, all coaches are required to present a valid Coach Licence (including Licence Number) issued by the EFA at the licence-checking point prior to matches, similar to the requirements for players. Coaches failing to possess this valid licence will be prohibited from coaching during matches.
For the 2024/2025 season, coaches lacking the requisite Diploma may still be permitted to coach, provided they meet specific criteria:

The coach is currently enrolled in an EFA Diploma Coaching Course; or The coach has registered with the EFA Technical Director to pursue the EFA Diploma Coaching Certificate, complete with proof of payment for course fees, held by both the club and the coach. Upon satisfying these requirements, coaches will receive licences as student coaches, available from the EFA Licensing department upon payment of E50. Clubs failing to adhere to these directives will forfeit their right to have a coach on the technical bench, incurring further sanctions for any matches played without a qualified, licensed coach—or for the presence of an ineligible coach. The same penalties apply to the ineligible coach. Coaches who do not comply with these regulations will be deemed ineligible, and clubs that employ such coaches will face consequences as dictated by the rules and any related regulations.

Points deduction for coachless teams

Anthony Mdluli from the Eswatini National Coaches Association remarked, “Club licensing is overseen by the EFA. It is their responsibility to establish who meets the standards. Our role is to encourage clubs to facilitate coaching education in line with EFA requirements. We urge them to engage actively with their teams, ensuring that all necessary paperwork is in place so that coaches can be deemed eligible.”

Muzi Radebe, the Marketing and Communications Officer at the Eswatini Football Association (EFA), stated that at the commencement of the league, all teams are mandated to employ coaches who comply with the Club Licensing regulations. Furthermore, these coaches must possess a CAF A licence; those lacking this qualification will be ineligible to coach within the elite league. He emphasised that should a club lose a coach mid-season, it is the club’s responsibility to secure a suitably qualified replacement.