Doctor Khumalo brings ‘expertise’ to Safa technical committee

South African Football Association (Safa) technical committee chair Jack Maluleke says Doctor Khumalo’s extensive understanding of South African football made him the right choice for the organisation’s revamped technical structure.

Khumalo, a key member of the South Africa side that won the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) on home soil in 1996, was elected deputy chair of the committee at Safa’s three-day national executive committee meeting in Sandton at the weekend.

The former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana midfielder’s appointment attracted considerable interest in football circles and was confirmed by Safa president Danny Jordaan after the meeting. Linda Zwane, Natasha Tsichlas and Tankiso Modipa were also elected as Jordaan’s vice-presidents.

The technical committee scouts players at amateur level for South Africa’s junior national teams. It also recommends candidates for senior national coaching positions, with the Safa national executive committee responsible for selecting and ratifying them.

Maluleke said the committee needed to combine the knowledge of former and current coaches with the experience of other technical figures.

“You must remember that the technical committee should be inclusive. We also have former and current coaches in the committee because we need the brains of all people with the technical knowledge of what is happening in the football fraternity,” he said.

Khumalo enjoyed a distinguished playing career, particularly with Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana, although his time as a coach was less successful. Maluleke nevertheless believes the 1996 Afcon winner can make a significant contribution.

“When we looked around, we had several names, but others are employed with different teams. Doc is a qualified coach and his contribution to football as a legend and coach triggered our decision to say he is the relevant person,” Maluleke said.

“We need such people to make a difference in the country. The reason we looked at him is that when you have him, you have a legend, coach, analyst and an expert in football.

“There might be others out there, but they serve different purposes and we felt the person who is correctly placed is Doctor Khumalo.”

The committee’s responsibilities will include scouting in areas where it cannot directly intervene. Maluleke said coaches would be sent to identify talent, with Khumalo expected to add value to that work.

“Our job is mostly scouting and we look at players even though we cannot interfere. We send some of our coaches to those areas and if Doc is there we have a package,” he added.

Maluleke also urged coaches working at lower levels to benefit from Khumalo’s experience, as the former Bafana player will have regular contact with football structures during scouting assignments.

Questions had been raised about Khumalo’s coaching credentials, but Maluleke said he was suitably qualified for the role, holding a Caf A licence.

“That’s why we felt it was the best decision to involve him,” he said.

Bobbie Solomons and former professional footballer Goodman Mazibuko are among the other coaches on the committee. Maluleke said the group needed three to four technical experts, particularly because some members would focus on implementing policy.

The committee will work closely with Safa technical director Molefi Ntseki, who has extensive experience in player development and coaching at junior and senior level.