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Cape Town - Neil Tovey was appointed as the new Technical Director of SAFA on Saturday, June 27 – the South African Coaches Association (SAFCA) has, however, expressed their dissatisfaction at the way in which he was elected.
SAFA had recently agreed to implement the new National Playing Philosophy (NPP) which was put forward by SAFCA.
Part of the NPP’s plan was to put in place a Technical Authority before electing a Technical Director, in order to make sure that whoever was elected would work within the guidelines of the NPP.
SAFCA had been awaiting a second round of talks with SAFA on the implementation of a Technical Authority which would clear up burning issues such as transforming the coaching curriculum and the technical structure.
“I was surprised to learn about Neil Tovey’s appointment in the news media, as a member of the Technical Committee and as part of the leadership of the Coaching body I’m expected to report to our members on technical matters like this one, and I’m just in the dark and the status quo puts SAFCA in a very precarious situation in the eyes of our members,” said SAFCA president, Greg Mashilo, in a statement released by the coaches association.
The SAFCA statement went on to say: “In normal circumstances such a key position should have been advertised so that other candidates Can be offered a fair and equal opportunity for the job.”
SAFCA’s Head of Technical Simon Ngomane believes that Neil Tovey’s appointment means that SAFA are not really serious about implementing the NPP.
“SAFCA is a constitutional body with a mandate to deal with Technical matters, we find it very problematic that the football governing body in the country can accept SAFCA’s National Playing Philosophy and in the same token brush aside other critical technical judicious processes that would have ended with a transparent, legitimate, fair, and quality assured appointment.
"We are also extremely concerned by the allegations that the existing SAFA Technical Committee played no part in this critical appointment, whether the allegations are true or not, the status quo is not conducive hence SAFCA’s call for a total transformation of the Technical Structure in our football.
"The days of SAFCA existing only to vote during election time are over, the organisation is involved in extensive research and there is a body of Technical work that can be utilised to move our football forward, the Playing Philosophy is but one of the many researched methodologies that can be utilised fully to develop our game provided we are afforded space and resources to work,” said Ngomane.
SAFCA’s demand is clear: SAFA needed to appoint a Technical Authority based on the guidelines of the NPP which would then be involved in making the appointment of the Technical Director.
