Dladla Faces CAF License Race To Coach Durban City In Africa
Durban City caretaker coach Pitso Dladla looks set to miss out on a historic opportunity to lead his side in the CAF Confederation Cup next season due to rigid continental licensing requirements.
Dladla earned the right to coach on the African continent after guiding Durban City to an emotional Nedbank Cup triumph over TS Galaxy at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in May.
The victory saw City become the first club from KwaZulu-Natal to lift the Nedbank Cup, and the first Durban-based side to win a major trophy since Golden Arrows secured the MTN8 back in 2009.
By virtue of that cup run, newly promoted City became the first-ever KZN franchise to qualify for the Confederation Cup, where they are scheduled to represent South Africa alongside third-place league finishers Kaizer Chiefs.
However, a massive bureaucratic hurdle now stands in the way. Under strict CAF club licensing rules, any coach sitting on the bench in continental competitions must hold a CAF A License.
Dladla does not currently possess the qualification, threatening to derail his dream.
The Search for a CAF A License Outside South Africa
When asked by Sportswire if he plans to look outside South Africa’s borders to enroll in an emergency coaching course with a neighboring football association, Dladla revealed that he is waiting for direction from club management.
“I’m glad that I’ve been open about this throughout the season whenever people asked about my personal ambitions,” Dladla replied to Sportswire.
“To be honest, I actually had a chance to go and do my CAF A License during pre-season training in Bloemfontein. But I sat down with the chairman [Farook Kadodia] to discuss the timing. The team had just earned promotion to the Betway Premiership, we were in the middle of pre-season, and we were trying to integrate a whole new group of players with the squad that won the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
“Because of those demands, I couldn’t leave. That is why I’ve been saying that whenever the next opportunity arises, I absolutely need to get this license.”
“It’s Not a University Degree” — Dladla Details Licensing Scarcity
The tactical mastermind emphasized that securing a spot on a CAF course isn’t as simple as applying for a standard academic qualification.
“People need to understand that this isn’t a course where you just apply to a university and go when you want,” Dladla explained. “You have to wait for CAF to sanction and offer the license. Sometimes it takes years.
“When was the last time it was offered here in South Africa? I think it was back in 2017 before SAFA finally brought it back two years ago. All of those timelines come into play. If it isn’t being offered in South Africa right now, then as you say, one will have to look at our neighboring countries. That is just the reality of the situation.”
The Clock is Ticking: The preliminary stages of the CAF Confederation Cup are scheduled to kick off in September. If Dladla and the Durban City hierarchy cannot find an immediate solution or dispensation, the club may be forced to hire a CAF A-licensed coach to front the team on the continent.
