Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) will start implementation of the Club Licensing System (CLS) for premier, higher and division one leagues’ clubs from next year.
In light of the aforementioned, EFF will arrange a national club licensing seminar in April 2017 to kick-start the process meant to modernize the way clubs are run.
“This is in line with FIFA and CAF directives to implement the CLS at the member association level,” EFF statement said.
A manual guide for the mandatory process will be put vote during EFF’s National Executive Committee meeting in 2018.
It contains five key criteria: sporting, infrastructure, personnel and administrative, legal and financial.
“Any club that intends to take part in the 2018/19 Ethiopian Premier League must obtain the CLS license.
“Clubs who participate in the other leagues will have to fulfil certain minimum requirements as regards personnel: for instance, each should have in place general manager, club secretariat, technical director, qualified coaches, finance officer and media officer.”
There will also be measurable and quantifiable safety criteria for stadiums.
EFF will also see to it that clubs have youth systems and acceptable training regimes.
Dr. Tedla Dangchew, the club licensing manager said the system will be implemented in phases.
“We will do it in phases because we know locally there are difficulties.”
EFF has moved to entrench CLS in their statutes Art 53, appointed decision making bodies and established CLS department and appointed CLS manager to underscore their commitment to the process.
Ethiopia is following in the footsteps of neighbors Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, who have led the way in implanting the Club Licensing System.
