FUFA move to professionalize grassroot coaching career in West Nile

By Mike Rwothomio

A four days intensive training aimed at empowering and equipping young football Coaches has been organized in West Nile’s district of Zombo.

Apparently, FUFA Uganda is focused on developing the game of football at all levels in the country which amongst others includes development of grassroots football, the promotion of women’s football, the provision of technical support to clubs, and the organization of national competitions for both professional and amateur teams.

The robust training organized and funded by Zombo district was conducted by Federation of Uganda Football Association. It commenced on Wednesday December 4, and will end on Sunday December 8, 2024 at Cream Land Motel in Paidha town council.

The 32 Participants drawn for the two Districts of Zombo and Nebbi, paid a participation fee of only shillings 80,000 to attain the beginners coaching course.

Jimmy Dokcen, the Chairperson Zombo district football Association said, the training was organized upon rigorous assessment of low level of grass root coaching career in the district, adding that the main aim is to professionalize sports management at grassroot level.

” Through the District, region and FUFA, we were given this course which started on Wednesday 4-Subday 8 December, 2024. We have 32 Participants though our expectations was about 40 but we are going well ” Dokcen stated.

Dokcen also encouraged other untrained coaches to seize such subsidized coaching course opportunities in future , to professionalize local sports.

Lately, stakeholders including security officers have been calling for a streamline in sports management, adding that most cases of hooliganism are exacerbated by unprofessional conduct of local coaches that incite fans into the unlawful act, when sports results go against their way.

The district sports officer Aziz Onim, commended participants for embracing the professional initiative, adding that ” we organized this training as in line with the 2023 sports act , that seeks to professionalize coaching courses at all level, and I think this will improve our competition level” 

Meanwhile Sharifa Nantumbwe, a CAF B qualifed Coach and FUFA instructor, who conducted the four days all-out training, told this publication that, beginners coaching course is the only pathway to other coaching qualifications.

” The beginners coaching course is a stepping stone to other coaching courses like CAF D, C,E and if at all you passes through all the stages , you might become a FUFA instructor like me, but the main point why we are here in Zombo, is to make the coaches attain skills and rightful qualifications to be able to train young ones for the future of their country ” Nantumbwe explained.

However, of the total 32 youthful Participants, female counterparts were a no show, painting a glaring picture of gender equality gap in grass root sports in the district.

At the end of the training, the participants will be awarded with a beginners coaching course certificates, setting up a brighter future for their fast-growing marketable industrious and buzzing grassroot football coaching careers.