Former Mamelodi Sundowns defender Siaka Tiene has seamlessly transitioned from the pitch into an administrative position at the Confederation of African Football [CAF].
The 43-year-old retired as a footballer in 2015 armed with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the Ecole de Commerce de Lyon.
After turning out for Sundowns for two seasons from 2003 to 2005, Tiene went on to enjoy a decorated club career in Europe, which included winning the French Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain [PSG], where he spent three terms.
His playing days were also highlighted by clinching the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] with Ivory Coast in Equatorial Guinea. While Tiene’s Ivory Coast former teammates, like Kolo and Yaya Toure, as well as Serey Die, have gone into coaching, he has opted for a different path.
WHAT DOES THE EX-MAMELODI SUNDOWNS STAR TIENE DO AT CAF?
The 2023 AFCON staged in his home country saw the versatile defender performing duties as a General Coordinator. “I had already started preparing for this transition during my playing career,” said Tiene on CAF.
“I didn’t only want to become a coach, but also take on leadership roles as a manager. That’s what led me to pursue the right qualifications. Honestly, I wanted to put my experience to use in this role. The General Coordinator manages the entire organisation, making sure everything runs smoothly in a stadium.”
He added: “With my background as a player, I had already observed how teams were received, how logistics and procedures worked on the ground. I knew I could succeed in this role, and that’s what pushed me to take on this new challenge.”
Tiene will be a General Coordinator at the 2025 AFCON tournament on Morocco.
“I can already see the enthusiasm and the considerable investment by the Moroccan state to host an exceptional AFCON,” he added. “This benefits all teams, players, and supporters. I am convinced this will be a great edition, as Morocco will put everything in place to ensure the best possible conditions for everyone.”
THE ROLE OF A GENERAL COORDINATOR
The General Coordinator makes sure the stadium is ready for a match during a tournament. They work with the local organising committee. Their duties include making sure details like dressing rooms, floodlights, standby generators, the pitch and technical facilities are all working for a smooth running of a game.
“Every detail I noticed on the pitch, during training and matches, is still useful,” the Abidjan-born former footballer said. “My time in different clubs gave me a lot of experiences that now help me as a General Coordinator. It really helps me understand team needs and anticipate situations on the ground.
“First, I want to share the experience I’ve built up over the years and across the many AFCONs I played in. My goal is to contribute to the optimal organisation of competitions so that all teams and players perform under the best conditions possible.”