South African football legend and CAF A Licence holder Godfrey Sapula has warned former footballers that simply having played as a pro is not enough to be a coach in the topflight.
The industrious midfielder hung up his boots in 2010 and has since pursued a career in coaching, completing his CAF B Licence back in 2012.
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In addition to being a youth coach at Mamelodi Sundowns, the 2007 PSL Player of the Season recently completed his CAF A License course, hosted by the SAFA.
Speaking on Sundowns' Pitchside Podcast, Sapula urged retired footballers who wish to pursue a career in coaching to equip themselves with coaching qualifications.
"But also, ask about the qualifications; I've done my CAF B in 2012 and then I finished my CAF A this year. So, it's been a long wait for me to complete my CAF A because there's only been one CAF A [course] in the last 10 years, this one was the second," he revealed.
"But it shows that we also know that it's not enough to say: 'I know the game, I know it all'. No, we are students of the game and we continue to be students of the game.
"There is a lot of evolution in football. I cannot coach based on what I did as a player because the information is accessible to these players now, so I need to also evolve and be able to coach them.
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"But if you are staying behind, the game will leave you behind and you won't be able to coach the coming generation.
"So, equip yourself and make sure that you are able to advance. Especially with the success of the club, you have to make sure that you are at that level that can continue the success of the first team," says the former midfield kingpin.
Sapula was among a list of former footballers-turned-coaches who graduated from the CAF A License SAFA course in June. Also in attendance were Sailor Tshabalala, Gavin Hunt and Steve Barker, among others.