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Players can become great administrators
At least 40 per cent of footballers should take to administration once they retire, is the opinion shared with us by former Zambia star Kalusha Bwalya in Johannesburg on Friday. Dhiman Sarkar reports.
At least 40 per cent of footballers should take to administration once they retire, is the opinion shared with us by former Zambia star Kalusha Bwalya in Johannesburg on Friday.
"The number is possibly five per cent now. It should be a way of giving back to the game. I have learnt a lot from administrators who never played but, I think, looking at administration from a player's perspective usually helps," said Bwalya, 47, a FIFA Standing Committee member and president of the Zambia Football Association.
The Zambia legend agreed it also helps connect better with players. "I know what players like to hear just before a game, for instance. I know they like to be left alone, and if I do have to say something, it shouldn't be repeating what the coach has already said.
Also, it's easier for the footballer turned administrator to identify who the real football people in your country or club are."
Bwalya, who's also coached Zambia, stressed on the need to create an environment to develop indigenous coaches. "The process of educating coaches is complicated. And while a foreign coach brings knowledge, it is important to accelerate the development of African coaches through proper education," he said.
"Often, in Africa you have a situation where you are a footballer one day and an assistant-coach the next. It has been agreed that club coaches must now have at least a C-license. Africa took the fast-forward route but realised that it's not correct," said Jomo Sono, a former South Africa coach.
Sono also said it is important for foreign coaches to empower others. "It is pointless to have a coach from Uruguay here who brings 10 others from his country as part of his staff. When they leave, nothing is left behind. Contracts should be worked in such a way that the foreign coach adds value to the country he takes charge of."
