On August 24, the South African Football Association (SAFA) proudly inaugurated the SAFA Clive Barker Academy, a tribute to the late Clive Barker, the esteemed coach who guided Bafana Bafana to victory in the Africa Cup of Nations 1996.
The ceremony, held in Nasrec, south of Johannesburg, was a heartfelt acknowledgement of Barker's contributions to South African football.
South African Football Association's (SAFA) Vice President, Linda Zwane, took the stage to underscore the organisation's central mission of fostering football development within the country. She emphasised two key focal points: women's football and youth football. Zwane stressed the importance of educating and upskilling coaches to meet international standards in these areas.
Commending the SAFA regions for their commendable work in coach education, Zwane encouraged more regions to join in, empowering their communities and nurturing the growth of football.
Jack Maluleka, Chairperson of SAFA's Technical Committee, paid homage to Barker, an adored African football figure who sadly passed away on June 10, after bravely battling Lewy Body Dementia.
Walter Steenbok, SAFA's Technical Director, elucidated the mission of the Clive Barker Academy. He also announced the revival of the CAF A License Diploma courses, with the first scheduled for November.
Steenbok expressed excitement about the Clive Barker Academy's potential and forthcoming courses, set to commence in 2024. He underscored SAFA's responsibility to educate and elevate coaches, thus boosting the nation's football.
"The technical side of football is interesting," Steenbok noted. He highlighted the diversity of specialisations within modern football, including technical directors, performance analysts, scouts, and youth coaches. The Clive Barker Academy intends to prepare coaches for these varied roles.
The SAFA Clive Barker Academy, named in honour of the late coach who led Bafana Bafana to their one and only historic continental title, will cater to the aspirations of coaches, scouts, analysts and technical directors. It will provide accredited CAF coaching qualifications through SAFA's auspices.
Steenbok emphasised the academy's commitment to meeting the evolving demands of modern football. It plans to offer a range of CAF-accredited courses and is open to collaborating with local and international stakeholders and institutions to further football development.
Steenbok said the diverse career paths in modern football, included Technical Directors, performance analysts, scouts and youth coaches. The SAFA Clive Barker Academy aims to train the next generation of coaches for these specialised roles.
The academy's programmes are scheduled to commence in the coming year, with numerous enrolments anticipated. Additionally, SAFA will reinstate its CAF A License coaching courses, ensuring coaches meet CAF's rigorous coaching standards.
After a period of ineligibility, the association is once again fully compliant and eligible to administer these courses, with the first CAF A License course set for November under CAF's guidance. This marks a significant step forward for South African football development.
