Daine Klate weighs in on SAFA coaching requirements
La Masia head coach Daine Klate has shared his views on the announcement by SAFA regarding the new coaching requirements. The SAFA NEC recently approved an implementation of coaching standards as of the beginning of the 2024/25 PSL season.
A coach will be required to have at least a CAF A Licence or a UEFA Pro License. They must also have a minimum of five years as a professional head coach. In addition, they must have won a trophy in the last seven years as a coach.
THUMBS UP FOR NEW SAFA COACHING STANDARDS
“I think it’s very good. We have to set standards, you know people just come from nowhere and end up being coaches,” said Klate who has a Uefa B Licence with the Irish Football Association.
The 38-year-old recently completed his first phase of a UEFA A Licence. He is expected to complete the course before the end of the current season.
“So I think setting standards is the first step towards improving the quality of the game and improving the quality of the players. The coaches should have proper education.
“Nobody can just wake up to be a lawyer without having qualifications. You can’t just decide that tomorrow you are this person or you just want to become a lawyer without the education side of things,” he said.
DAINE KLATE PASSIONATE ABOUT FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT
“For me, I have learnt a lot from the development ranks. I think I am more of a developer and I will always have an advantage with coaches like [the late] Mandla Mazibuko who said to me that I have an advantage because I come from development.
“Same with my coaching, I take my coaching development very seriously. But I still have a long way to go. I have always learnt from people like coach Clinton Larsen. He is one of my mentors so I am looking forward to engaging with him again for a little bit,” he said.
“There is Pitso Mosimane who I worked with, and Gavin Hunt who I also worked with. So I can take a lot from them but all in all, I think it’s important to set standards. I am very happy with the latest SAFA move.”
The rules will also apply to Motsepe Foundation Championship coaches and an assistant coach will now be required to have at least a CAF B Licence.
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