Shu-Aib Walters earns UEFA B coaching licence after Scotland programme

Former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Shu-Aib Walters has completed the UEFA B coaching qualification after travelling to Scotland to finish the final stage of the programme.

The 44-year-old visited the Scottish Football Association’s national performance centre at Oriam, where he successfully completed the required practical assessments and received his certificate.

Walters, who was part of South Africa’s squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, has continued to develop his coaching credentials since ending his playing career. He earned his CAF B coaching licence in 2023 before joining the Mamelodi Sundowns academy structures in 2024.

“I have just completed the UEFA B in coaching,” Walters confirmed in an interview with KickOff.

“I have just returned from Scotland. It went well. Obviously, I have acquired my certificate now. It was just a prerequisite for myself, for what I want to pursue, which is obviously having my UEFA A in goalkeeping, and this one gets me one step closer to that.”

Walters made two trips to Scotland over a period of two months as he completed the qualification. He said the course was intended to provide him with broader coaching knowledge and a better understanding of the structures used by the Scottish FA.

“I had to do the coaching one just to obviously gain the knowledge. It’s nice to see structures of how they want it to be done at the Scottish FA. It was a good experience,” he said.

“I travelled twice over a period of two months. Hopefully I will be accepted to go for UEFA B for Goalkeeping next year.”

The former Maritzburg goalkeeper said the additional training was particularly important because of the age group he works with at Mamelodi Sundowns.

“If you look at CAF, they don’t have goalkeeping licences. These qualifications will help me, especially with the age group I’m coaching, which is between the ages of 10 and 19,” he added.

“I feel that I need to equip myself.”

Walters’ latest achievement strengthens the coaching expertise within Mamelodi Sundowns’ youth technical team as he continues working with young goalkeepers and helping to develop potential future Bafana Bafana players.

His immediate objective is to build on the UEFA B coaching licence and pursue the UEFA A qualification in goalkeeping.