Three South African football coaches received their coaching certificates today at the German Embassy in Pretoria. They successfully completed the three-week International Coaching Course of the German Football Association (DFB) in Hennef, Germany.

The Chargé d'Affaires of the German Embassy, Ingo Herbert, welcomed the coaches as well as Michael Nees, Head of the Coaching Education Department within the South African Football Association (SAFA).

Enlarge image Participants of the International DFB-Coaching Course (© German Embassy Pretoria) The International Coaching Course was held in Hennef, Germany with 35 participants from 24 countries, and is part of a programme organised jointly by DFB and the German Foreign Ministry (FFO). The B-Level certificate enables the coaches to participate in the A-Level Course, a further step on the way to acquiring a professional coaching license.

“Meeting people from different countries in a programme like this is very important. Even though this is different from traditional diplomacy between government officials, the ties and relationships between artists, scholars and athletes are also the core of diplomatic relations between nations. This is why Germany's Foreign Office supports such programmes,” Herbert pointed out.

The participants praised the programme and the experiences they had during the course.

“We are grateful for the amazing opportunity to meet people from so many other countries and to really build a relationship, make a connection with them,” said Lebogang Tlomatsane.

Enlarge image Participant Tracy Pepper with Ingo Herbert, Chargé d'Affaires of the German Embassy (© German Embassy Pretoria) Edwin Johannes added: “We had the opportunity to learn from and about people and dispel the negative image we have from the media. This experience with them changes everything!”

“We were treated like celebrities in Germany. The generous hospitality of the Germans was amazing,” Tracy Pepper said.

The group also went to three matches of the German Bundesliga and was impressed with the professional organisation of the events. From the park & ride facilities at the stadium,the wide mix of spectators (including families), to the fans riding bicycles to the matches, the images contrasted with what they were accustomed to back home. It was eye-opening.

“I am tremendously impressed by how much the leagues invest in youth development,” Edwin Johannes emphasized.

Every year SAFA sends coaches to Germany to participate in the course. Currently between 15-20 South African coaches have had the A or B level training thus far.