The Sunday News
SOUTH Africa will host the Cosafa Senior Cup next year.
This year’s edition of the regional tournament which was pencilled for Botswana in September was put on ice at the last minute due to financial and logistical challenges.
In an interview during African Union Sports Council Region Five under-20 Youth Games which conclude today, Cosafa director of competitions, Timothy Shongwe revealed the tournament would be back on the calendar next year.
Shongwe said they had secured a sponsor for the tournament but were yet to set the dates for the tournament.
“We are still finalizing the logistics of the tourney and consulting with the sponsor and other stakeholders in order to set the date. We also have to consult with the South Africa Football Association on the suitable date so that we do not disturb their calendar but we are tentatively looking at hosting it at the end of South Africa’s Premier League season,” said Shongwe, adding that the sponsor would be unveiled at the official launch of the competition.
Shongwe also revealed that the proposed champions’ league, featuring club teams within the region would now be held in 2016.
The inaugural regional competition for league champions was conceptualised during last year’s Cosafa Annual General Assembly in Maseru, Lesotho, was due to take place next year.
Shongwe said a tight football schedule had forced Cosafa to move the inaugural inter-club tourney to 2016. Cosafa has secured sponsorship from South African television station, Siyaya TV for the tournament. He added that it was not feasible to have to Cosafa events in one country in the same year.
“South Africa will host the Cosafa Cup and the sponsors for the champions’ league, Siyaya TV also want to have the first edition of the club competition being held in South Africa but we feel we cannot have two Cosafa tournaments in the same country in one year.
“However, there is also the issue of the tournament dates. The football schedule is already tight so it would be difficult for us to fit it in for next year (2015),” said Shongwe.
There have been concerns from football leaders in the region over the consistent failure by clubs from member states to do well when paired against those from other regions.
Meanwhile Shongwe told participants at a recently ended FIFA/Cosafa Youth coaching course that Cosafa was committed to the continued development of soccer hence the move to play a role in organising the football component of the Under-20 Youth Games.
Cosafa organised the course to run concurrently with the Games as part of the development thrust and to equip future coaches with the appropriate knowledge.
“We would like to see more coaches being developed and we will host such courses whenever there is a Cosafa tournament as we align development and competitions. Our thrust is not just aimed at coaches but we are also targeting football administrators and referees,” he said.
Addressing the same gathering last Saturday, Zifa chief executive officer, Jonathan Mashingaidze said it was critical to increase one’s knowledge as a coach instead of running to sangomas.
He said Zifa unveiled a four-year plan aimed at growing the game.
Twenty coaches were awarded certificates after completing the five-day course that was facilitated by Fifa instructors, Govinden Thondoo and Fran Hilton.
The participants were drawn from all over the country and included practicing coaches and those who were acquiring their first coaching badges.
Among the participants were Inline Academy players, Rudo Neshamba, Judith Lunga and Rejoice Kapfumvuti while former New Orleans’ star and Cowdray Park player-coach, Ntombiyelanga Ndlovu and Toronto FC coach, Sakhelene Nxumalo were also part of the group.
The other participants were Felistas Muzongodi, Weddington Chataika, Saliwe Chifamba, Naison Mukandiona, Amanda Nyamututa, and Timothy Chimanga, Wellington Jacob, Fungai Kombo, Never Nkuli, Fungai Kombo, Muwei Masaa, Charles Dhliwayo, Brent Jiriyengwa, Annacoletha Mweneziko and Knowledge Makaudze.
