The Football Association of Malawi (Fam) has said it will set Confederation of African Football (Caf) A coaching licence as a minimum requirement for FDH Bank Premiership clubs effective next season.

Fam President Fleetwood Haiya made the remarks during the official opening of the historic Caf A coaching course at Mpira Village, Chiwembe Township, in Blantyre City yesterday.

Currently, Caf B licence is the minimum requirement for coaches in the FDH Bank Premiership.

However, Haiya said once the first cohort, currently attending the Caf A coaching course, completes its module in May next year, the minimum requirement would be the Caf A coaching licence, in line with Caf requirements.

“We have been at minimum allowance of our Club Licencing, whereby coaches with Caf B coaching licence in the elite league were allowed [to be offering services] because there was no Caf A coaching course for 10 years. especially for elite clubs,

“Once the first cohort is done, only coaches with a Caf A coaching licence will be allowed to coach elite clubs,” Haiya said.

Fam had maintained Caf B as a minimum requirement for coaches in top flight for many years after Caf stopped the Caf A-coaching course in 2016.

Haiya said the Caf A coaching course would change the country’s football landscape.

“We have been struggling to have Caf A coaches, to the extent of importing coaches but we are not exporting coaches. This will give us an opportunity to export coaches because they will be at par with foreign coaches,” he said.

Haiya also said the course would translate into improved football standards in the country.

“This is a milestone in implementing our 10-year Transformative Strategic Plan (2024-34), as we believe quality coaches are key to developing better players, stronger clubs and competitive national teams,” Haiya said.

The return of the Caf A coaching course means local football coaches have all the reason to smile for the first time after a decade.

The first module of the coaching course is expected to be completed in May next year.

The coaching course manual was developed locally. However, it was accredited by Fifa to be in line with local football.

Malawi National Women’s Football Team Coach Lovemore Fazili said the course was important.

“We are going to improve where we are falling short. After the course, we will be different coaches. It is good not only for us, as coaches, but also for Malawi as a whole,” he said.

Other coaches attending the course are Kondwani Ikwanga of Chitipa United, Caps United Assistant Coach Joseph Kamwendo, Innocent Chatama, Peter Mponda of Masters, Jimmy Zakazaka, Andrew Chikhosi, George Sangala, Linda Kasenda and Chisomo Nkhoma.