On the fields where they once chased goals, a new group in Mahikeng is now learning how to shape them. The North-West University (NWU) Soccer Institute hosted the South African Football Association (SAFA) D Licence coaching course from 30 June to 6 July 2025, training aspiring coaches in the principles that guide youth and amateur football development.

The SAFA D Licence is the foundational qualification in South African football coaching. It equips participants with tactical understanding, coaching methodology and player development techniques. The course included both theoretical and practical sessions designed to build coaching capacity at grassroots level.

Coach Nkululeko Malgas from the NWU Soccer Institute says hosting the course is a major step for the region. “It is huge for football development in our institution and the community at large. As you saw, SAFA has agreed to regulate coaching qualifications. For anyone to work as coach, they must acquire a certain coaching licence for that particular league. When we host the training here, we are assisting in fast-tracking that process,” he says.

He adds that this requirement will soon apply to all coaches involved in the university’s internal football structures. “In the future, for any coach to be involved in the NWU Football Residence League, they should have a SAFA D Licence.”

The course is led by experienced instructors Gideon Noge and Edwin Johannes. “We have some of the highest qualified coaching instructors in North West. SAFA made it a point that in each of their 52 regions across the country, there should be a minimum of five qualified coaching instructors,” says coach Malgas.

A total of 30 aspiring coaches are participating, including community coaches and students from the NWU's Human Movement Science programme. “It is of great importance to them, as it serves as the portfolio of evidence in their field. They are now able to align what they are currently studying together with what the course entails,” says coach Malgas.

The course covers a range of practical skills and knowledge areas. “Some of the skills they acquired here include how to work with children aged six to 11 years, organising fun games, as there are no tactics and fitness in those age groups, and how to improvise in terms of the facilities available. They will also learn about festival organisation,” he adds.

This initiative is part of the ongoing partnership of the NWU Soccer Institute with the SAFA to raise coaching standards and increase access to formal training in the region.

From left are David Molwantwa, president of SAFA Ngaka Modiri Molema and chairperson of SAFA North West, and Edwin Johannes and Gideon Noge, CAF coach instructors.

These coaches attended the SAFA D Licence coaching course hosted by the NWU Soccer Institute.