Former Orlando Pirates assistant coach Darian Wilken has completed his UEFA A and UEFA A Elite Youth Licence through the Wales FA.
Wilken, 30, is currently Fadlu Davids’ assistant at Simba SC, with both having previously worked under Josef Zinnbauer at Raja Club Athletic, where they won unbeaten league and cup double.
In their first season with Simba, they finished runners-up in the league – only beaten to the title on the final day of the 2024/25 campaign – and also runners-up in the CAF Confederation Cup.
While being on the sidelines alongside Davids, Wilken has also completed his coaching badges, but insists the journey is not done yet.
“Proud to have completed my UEFA A & A Elite Youth License through the Football Association of Wales,” he stated on social media.
“From the very first session to the final assessments, this course demanded a lot, not just tactically and technically, but personally. It pushed me to grow as a coach, a communicator, and as a leader in high performance environments. I’m deeply grateful for the experience and for the mentors who walked the road with me.
“Throughout my coaching journey, I’ve had the privilege of working at some of the top clubs in Africa, each one shaping me in different ways. The intensity, the passion, the expectations, they teach you fast.
To our Head Coach, Fadlu Davids and the entire technical team, thank you for creating a culture of collaboration, where voices are heard and ideas are sharpened through respectful challenge and shared ambition. It’s a privilege to work in a team that values detail, honesty, and vision.
“It’s always been my personal goal to achieve my UEFA A License by the age of 30, and today, I can say I’ve done that.
“But the journey doesn’t stop here. Next up: the UEFA Pro License, because the aim has never been just to arrive, but to keep growing, learning, and raising the level.”
Wilken started his coaching journey at AmaZulu before moving to Orlando Pirates in July 2018, working alongside Milutin Sredojevic, Zinnbauer, Davids and Mandla Ncikazi before joining Davids at Maritzburg United and later reuniting with Zinnbauer at Raja CA.