The second phase of the CAF B Diploma Coaching Course is currently underway at Football House in Windhoek, with coaches continuing their journey towards earning one of CAFโs important coaching qualifications. The course is being led by South African coach educator Steve Coetzee, who is taking the coaches through another phase of learning, practical sessions and discussions around the modern game.
Forย Swallows FC coach Hermanus “Lawal” Naobeb, being part of the course is more than just getting another qualification. It is an opportunity to learn, improve and hopefully take his coaching career to another level.
โWe usually donโt have such courses in the country and this marks an important milestone for us coaches,โ he said.
Known as Coach Lawal in Katutura, he is currently coaching Swallows FC, a team competing in the second division, while also working with the Swallows Academy which features age groups from 9-19 playing in the MTC HopSol Youth League.
For him, coaching is something that goes beyond the football pitch.
Growing up and working in Katutura, Lawal has seen first hand the role football plays in keeping young people busy and away from the streets. For many of the youngsters he works with, football gives them something to look forward to, but also an opportunity to dream bigger and beyond their livelihoods.
โEvery second house in Katutura is a shebeen, our children need safe spaces to grow and play and I enjoy working with the young ones because you can see the difference you make in their lives. Some of them just need someone to believe in them and give them that opportunity,โ he said.
Lawal has also been involved in grooming players who have gone on to play in Namibiaโs top tier league, something which continues to motivate him to invest more time into youth development.His passion for coaching is clear, and while he is already working at both senior and youth level, Lawal believes there is still a lot more he wants to achieve.
โThis is something I am passionate about. I want to continue learning and improve myself as a coach. I want to go further in my coaching career and hopefully coach at the highest level one day and the CAF B Diploma is therefore not the destination, but another step in my coaching journey”