CAF head of safety and security Dr Christian Emeruwa has explained why the Africa football governing body didn’t allow the coach of Enyimba Finidi George to sit on the team’s technical bench during their CAF Champions League clash with Al Ahly Benghazi of Libya.
Finidi was told alongside his assistant that they both don’t have the required license to sit on the bench despite the fact that he has a UEFA A license, while his assistant Olarewaju Yema holds a UEFA C license.
Enyimba were yesterday knocked out of the tournament after a 0-0 draw at home in the second leg after losing the first leg 3-4 away in Libya. Their exit led to an inquest about the decision on why the coaches were barred from sitting on the bench and Emeruwa, who also doubles as a FIFA security officer gave the below explanation.
“CAF intention is to raise the standard of coaching education in Africa, this is why to be on the bench for CL you either have a CAF A License or UEFA Pro license.
Or other sister Confederation Pro licence while the assistants are to have a minimum of CAF B which unfortunately Finidi and his assistants do not have in this case.
CAF accepts anyone with a CAF A and UEFA Pro, AFC Pro or any Confederation Pro licence to serve as Head Coach for CL and assistants must have minimum of CAF B.
This rule applies to all across the continent and it’s not new”.
Reacting to the above statement, a backroom staff of Enyimba said the situation could have been averted if the new chairman of the team Kanu Nwankwo contacted the former management of the team.
He said the rule has been in place for two years but Enyimba always has a way around it like most teams in Africa. But Kanu who has left everything in the hands of his appointee Ifeanyi Ekwueme, a novice just like him had no clue on circumventing the requirement.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
