SAFA have announced their new technical regulations for all football that were agreed and approved at the last SAFA NEC meeting on 9 December 2023.
This was confirmed in a letter by SAFA Technical Director Walter Steenbok, released by SAFA on Saturday.
While it remains to be seen just how some of the decisions are feasible, SAFA has said they are expected to be in place from the 2024/2025 seasons.
Here are the full regulations:
1. Premier Soccer League (PSL) and National First Division (NFD)
1.1 Coaches’ qualifications in the PSL (Head Coach- CAF A and Assistant Coach-CAF B)
from the start of 2024/2025 season.
1.2 Coaches’ qualifications in the NFD (Head Coach- CAF A and Assistant Coach-CAF B)
from the start of 2024/2025 season.
1.3 International coaches’ qualification and requirements
• Head Coach-UEFA Pro/CAF A and Assistant Coach-CAF B),
• 5 years coaching experience at a professional level, and
• Must have won a cup /league in the last 7 years) from the start of
2024/2025 season.
1.4 PSL and NFD Clubs to have a minimum of 2 junior teams (boys and girls) registered
within the Local Football Association from the start of the 2024/2025 season.
1.5 NFD Clubs allowed to register 6 Under-23 players. A minimum of 2 can start the
game and must play a minimum of 45 minutes and a maximum of 60 min. 2 Under-
23 players must finish the match.
2. Hollywoodbets Women’s Super League (HWSL)
2.1 League to be increased to 18 teams by the start of the 2024/2025 season.
2.2 Rule of 7 (local) + 3 (foreigners) + 1 (local goalkeeper) applied from the start of the
2024/2025 season.
2.3 No foreign goalkeepers allowed in the HWSL from the start of the 2024/2025
season.
2.4 HWSL Clubs are allowed to register 5 foreign players and only 3 can play in a match.
2.5 Coaches’ qualifications in the HWSL (Head Coach- CAF B and Assistant Coach-CAF C)
from the start of 2024/2025 season.
2.6 HWSL Clubs to have a minimum of 2 junior teams (boys and girls) registered within
the Local Football Association from the start of the 2024/2025 season.
3. ABC Motsepe League
3.1 Coaches’ qualifications in the ABC Motsepe League (Head Coach- CAF B and
Assistant Coach-CAF C) from the start of 2026/2027 season.
3.2 ABC Motsepe League Clubs to have a minimum of 2 junior teams (boys and girls)
registered within the Local Football Association from the start of the 2025/2026
season.
3.3 ABC Motsepe League Clubs are allowed to register 6 Under-23 players. A minimum
of 3 can start the game and must play a minimum of 45 minutes and a maximum of
60 min. 2 Under-23 players must finish the match from 2024/2025.
4. Regional Leagues (RL’s) and LFA’s
4.1 Coaches’ qualifications in the Regional Leagues and LFA’s (Head Coach- CAF C and
Assistant Coach-CAF D) from the start of 2026/2027 season.
4.2 Regional League Clubs to have a minimum of 2 junior teams (boys and girls)
registered within the Local Football Association from the start of the 2025/2026
season.
5. Universities and Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL)
5.1 Coaches’ qualifications in the Universities and IHL (Head Coach- CAF B and Assistant
Coach-CAF C) from the start of 2024/2025 season.
5.2 University Clubs to have a minimum of 2 junior teams (boys and girls) registered
within the Local Football Association from the start of the 2024/2025 season.
6. School Football
6.1 Coaches’ qualifications in the School Interprovincial competitions (Head Coach- CAF C
and Assistant Coach-CAF D) from the start of 2025/2026 season.
7. Professional and Elite Academies (PEA), School of Excellence (SOE), and
Development Centres (DC)
7.1 PEA, SOE, and DC undergo (mandatory) SAFA online registration. The due date for
submission is on the 30th of December 2023.
7.2 Compliance process to happen in 3 phases (Phase 1-registration, Phase 2-Online visit
and verification, and Phase 3-Categorisation and Certification)
7.3 Coaches’ qualifications in the PEA, SOE, and DC (Head Coach- CAF B and Assistant
Coach-CAF C) from the start of 2024/2025 season.
7.4 Qualifications for Academy Manager /Academy Director/Head of Youth Technical
(CAF B) from the start of the 2024/2025 season.
7.5 Presence of a well-drafted Technical Curriculum within PEA, SOE, and DC for all age
groups from the start of the 2024/2025 season.
7.6 PEA, SOE, and DC to have a minimum of 2 junior teams (boys and girls) registered
within the Local Football Association from the start of the 2024/2025 season.