CAF President Patrice Motsepe has stressed the importance of projects like the ongoing CAF Football Management Executive Programme currently being held in conjunction with the University of Cape Town.
The CAF Football Management Executive Programme is one of the flagship education programmes initiated by CAF in partnership with leading Universities to train and up-skill African football administrators including CAF Member Associations’ General Secretaries.
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Lecturers in the programme include many leading individuals in the business of Sport like former Arsenal Chairman, David Dein and former MultiChoice Chairman, Imtiaz Patel.
Dr Motsepe, and his wife Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, the Chancellor of UCT, were amongst the dignitaries in attendance at this week’s launch marking the first phase of the roll-out of the programme, which included attendees from 28 of Africa’s countries.
“Today we were talking about how UCT, a world-class institution, we want them to help train, to help expose, but also to help educate the football administrators, the management, at all levels,” Dr Motsepe told members of the media after the launch
“And of course, you’ve got the 54 African member associations who are here, and we learn from the most successful institutions, but also the most successful football clubs and national teams in the world.
“But the bottom line is we need African football to be sustainable, to be self-supporting, to be profitable, and when the sponsors look, and the investors and the partners look at football being run by people with expertise, with skills, and also run in a manner, that complies with governance, that compliance with auditing and accounting practices, it makes it more appealing for them, which contributes to the growth and success of football.
“The role of management should not be underestimated. Of course, we’ve got to pay the players very well, because the people come to us, the football players.
“So today is historic. I’m very proud of UCT. It could have been any one of the universities on the continent, based on discussions and CAF decided that the partnership should be with UCT.”
The programme, a mix of online as well as on-site modules, has key objectives including the following:
- Enhancing skills and expertise of African football stakeholders.
- Building capacity of role-players within CAF’s 54 member associations.
- Driving innovation and encouraging football executives to expand their strategic acumen and strengthen their leadership capabilities.
- Contributing to the advancement and sustainability of African football.
