Fifteen football coaches from communities within the Madibeng Local Municipality have successfully completed their Confederation of African Football (CAF) C Licence qualification, marking a significant milestone for grassroots sport development in the region.
The accredited coaching programme was funded through a community development initiative supported by De Wildt Solar and aimed at strengthening coaching standards while creating structured pathways for young athletes.
The CAF C Licence is a recognised football coaching qualification that equips coaches with technical and tactical knowledge, player development skills and modern coaching methodologies aligned with international standards.
According to programme organisers, the initiative was designed to improve the quality of coaching available to young players, strengthen local football structures and create pathways for skills development, leadership and community participation through sport.
The coaches were selected from local football structures affiliated with the Mmadamo League. Participation in the programme required coaches to already hold a South African Football Association (SAFA) D Licence qualification, ensuring that candidates formed part of an established football development pathway.
Beyond formal training, the sports development programme has continued to support both coaches and teams by facilitating participation in affiliated football and netball leagues, organising friendly matches against academies and higher-league teams, and providing football kits and golf shirts for match participation.
Organisers say the programme has already had a positive impact on youth and communities by creating structured opportunities for sport participation, improving access to quality coaching, strengthening local leagues and opening development pathways for both players and coaches. They also believe the initiative has helped build community pride and encouraged broader youth involvement in organised sport.
The newly qualified coaches are expected to play an important role in developing young footballers, helping clubs establish structured training programmes and creating opportunities for players to progress within the sport.
The initiative comes at a time when grassroots football continues to be viewed as an important platform for youth development, social cohesion and talent identification across South Africa.
Organisers say investing in coach education is essential to building sustainable sporting structures and ensuring young athletes receive quality guidance from trained professionals. The next phase of the programme will focus on supporting coaches as they apply their newly acquired skills within local teams and leagues to strengthen player development and improve coaching standards across their communities.
The programme forms part of broader efforts to promote community sport development and strengthen opportunities for young people through organised football and netball activities.
Organisers declined to disclose the financial value of the investment supporting the programme and were unable to provide the names of participating coaches at this stage.
