Heather Chikonan’ombe
GWERU: Zimbabwe’s representatives in the Champions league, FC Platinum are in fix after CAF turned down the request to allow head coach Hiendrikus Pieter De Jongh to sit on the bench during interclub matches.
De Jongh holds a UEFA A coaching license which CAF does not recognize and the continental mother body has said CAF A License is the only benchmark for all coaches taking part in this tournament.
What further compounds the situation is that, De Jongh’s lieutenant Patrick Mandizha who is the only assistant coach doesn’t hold that qualification.
This means, the platinum miners will have to make do without any bellowing instructions to the team when they take on Mozambique side Costa do Sol in a fortnight.
The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA), delivered the heart-breaking news from CAF via statement.
“The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has turned down Heindrikus Pieter De Jongh and FC Platinum’s request for an exemption to allow the head coach to sit on the bench during CAF interclub matches.
“De Jongh is a holder of a UEFA A license obtained in his native country Netherlands. A CAF A coaching license is a prerequisite for all coaches who participate in CAF Inter-club competitions,” the statement read.
“For coaches Licensing criterion on Administration and personal demands that all persons should be qualified for positions that the hold within football structures.
“To complement CCS’s stance on promoting professionalization of the game, the Zimbabwe football Association (ZIFA) has also been gradually enforcing club licensing dictates to the elite league,” the statement further reads.
At this point, the platinum miners are ruing letting Lizwe Sweswe leave the club, as he was the only one with the required CAF A coaching licence.
