BFL tells unqualified coaches to shush!
In a rather bizarre order, Botswana Premier League (BPL) assistant coaches will be allowed to sit on the bench during match days but will be prohibited from issuing instructions to players. This applies to tacticians who do not meet the minimum coaching qualifications required for the BPL. As per regulations, for local coaches, the elite league requires a minimum of a CAF B coaching license and a CAF A license for expatriates for head coach roles. For the assistant coach’s role, the trainers are required to have at least a CAF C or Botswana Football Association (BFA) C license. Yesterday, the Botswana Football League (BFL) wrote to four BPL clubs remindregulations. ing them of the The quartet is Extension Gunners, Mogoditshane Fighters, Security Systems and this year’s debutants, Eleven Angels. At Gunners, former Township Rollers’ winger Phenyo Mongala is holding the reins on an interim basis. Mongala holds a BFA C license and finds himself in this position following the departure of head coach, Oupa Kowa this week. Fighters’ assistant coach, Ofentse Mapeu is also in the same position as Mongala after taking over from Nelson Olebile.
Mapeu has a C license, the same qualification that Angels’ head coach, Seemo Mpatane has. Systems have been led by assistant coach, David Botlhasitse in the opening two games in the absence of head coach Kaelo ‘Wire’ Kaelo. Botlhasitse also does not meet the minimum requirements set by the BFL. “Please note that an assistant coach cannot replace a head coach in his absence unless the assistant coach has relevant qualifications,” the BFL told the clubs.
“On the same note, in the event that a head coach is not available, an assistant coach can sit on the bench but not give instructions during the game. He can only give instructions during half time in the change room,” the letter from BFL reads. Meanwhile, the Botswana Football Association has abolished the ‘soft points’ rule. From now on if a team fails to honour a match, the offending side will forfeit three points and lose the tie by two goals.
The points will now be used to determine the league championship and relegation positions.