The Ghana Football Association on Tuesday released a list of Ghanaian coaches who have attained the highest certificate in coaching on the African continent, CAF License A.
The list which is made up of seventy coaches includes established names like Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah, Maxwell Konadu, Paa Kwesi Fabin, Abedi Pele among others.
The announcement comes on the back of the FA’s commitment to implement in strict terms some sections of the club licensing policy that it adopted seven years ago.
What is Club Licensing Policy
The Club Licensing Regulations are the basic working documents for member associations that incorporate the minimum requirements and guidelines for every criterion for compliance as a basis for the issuance of a license to any club.
According to the document, every club must fulfill requirements for a license and these are divided into five categories (sporting, infrastructure, personnel and administrative, legal and financial), with each category being split into three grades A-C (mandatory and best-practice recommendation).
Per the policy, only coaches with CAF License A certificate or its equivalent will be allowed to coach Premier League teams in the country.
Coaches who don’t have CAF license A
Kim Grant
The Hearts of Oak coach and Technical Director is the biggest casualty of the decision by the Premier League Committee which is headed by the experienced MND Jawula.
Kim Grant’s name was conspicuously missing from the list and it has been confirmed that the former Black Stars striker does not have a CAF License A certificate or its equivalent.
Unofficial reports indicate that the coach has undertaken the UEFA Pro License course which qualifies him to be on the bench of Hearts but the certificate is yet to be issued.
Last week the PRO of the club debunked reports Grant is unfit to lead the club and vowed to produce his certificate the next day but more than a week after the declaration, Opare Addo has yet to return from his hibernation.
John Paintsil
Already it has been one of the stories of the upcoming season. After a decent career which saw him play for Fulham, Leicester and some mid-table teams in Europe, Painstil took up coaching, beginning at South Africa side Orlando Pirates.
Paintsil led a team of investors to buy Wa All Stars from banned former GFA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi and has been heading the technical department of that team.
Paintsil is currently without a CAF licensing A certificate and will not in the tunnel for Wa All Stars should the league start on December 28.
He has spoken of his intention to seek a special intervention from the FA to allow him coach in Ghana this season.
Johnson Smith
For someone with more than a decade experience under his belt, you would think that Smith has done all his badges.
It appears Smith got so comfortable with his lower license certificate that the numerous coaching courses facilitated by the former GFA administration did not tickle his fancy.
Johnson’s achievement at cash-strapped Karela shot up his popularity, earning him a return to Kotoko where he made his name as a player.
Sources say the club was willing to hand him a contract as head coach but the licensing policy ruled him out, resulting in the hiring of Maxwell Konadu who as unveiled yesterday as head coach of Kumasi Asante Kotoko
Enos Adepa
Another name that raised eyebrows is the former Wa All Stars coach. The nation took notice of the young enterprising gaffer when he led Wa All Stars to Premier League victory in 2015.
A highly rated coach with rich experience in topflight football in the country, Enos Adepa cannot handle a Premier League side because his certificate is not up to the level required.
David Reginald Asante
Reggae as he is affectionately called is one of the former players who ventured into coaching after retirement.
Reggae led Liberty Professionals to a semi-final finish in the Normalization Committee’s Special Cup competition and was set to stay on as Liberty coach but he is yet to attain the mandatory License A certificate.
He has now taken a sabbatical leave to Europe to undertake a coaching course and has been replaced by David Ocloo.