Baldwin Daka, a Zambian coach, now a director at a South African football academy, has highlighted differences between football academies in Zambia and South Africa.
In his comparison between the two nations, Daka has stressed that greater investment and improved structures are needed to develop young talent back home.
Daka, a former Mufulira Wanderers, Nkana and Highlands Park player, is currently working with Rievtvlei Soccer School in South Africa while pursuing his CAF A coaching licence.
Speaking in an interview, Daka said working with young players has been both challenging and rewarding, as coaches play a crucial role in shaping the future of footballers.
“It’s very challenging because when you work with kids, you have their lives at hand. Coaches who are dealing with grassroots football can either make a player or destroy a player, so mentally and morally it requires a lot,” he said.
Daka, who frequently visits Zambia to assist academies, noted that the biggest difference between the two countries lies in the level of investment and the general approach to grassroots football.
“In South Africa there is a lot of investment in grassroots football. They have understood that football can give someone a life. But in Zambia we are still trying to convince parents that a child can make a life out of football and not only school,” he said.
He added that infrastructure, coaching education and structured systems are more developed in South Africa.
“Standards are different and the approach is different. In Zambia it is still taken more like something for fun, but here in South Africa it is an investment,” Daka explained.
Despite the gap, the coach said he has noticed gradual improvements in Zambia with the emergence of more academies.
“Football is evolving” – Daka.
He also emphasized the importance of continuous learning for coaches, revealing that he is upgrading his knowledge through formal coaching education.
“Football is evolving every day. As a coach you have to keep learning new technology, new trends and new ideas, otherwise you will lag behind,” he said.
Daka further encouraged Zambian academy owners to clearly separate development structures from profit-driven initiatives.
“Academy owners must differentiate between building a future footballer and making money. If we focus on developing players properly, Zambian football will benefit in the long run,” he said.
The coach also revealed plans to establish a football academy in Zambia aimed at supporting talented but underprivileged players who cannot afford academy fees.
