25 coaches begin six-month CAF A Diploma coaching course under new convention

Buikwe, (UG):- A total of 25 coaches have embarked on a six-month CAF A Diploma coaching course, the first of its kind under the CAF coaching convention launched in 2019.

The course, officially opened by FUFA CEO Edgar Watson, at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru, Buikwe, aims to standardize coaching education across Africa.

Watson said FUFA has committed to embracing this initiative as part of its 2023-2030 Technical Masterplan and emphasized the Association’s vision to make Uganda the best footballing nation in Africa, both on and off the field.

Mr Watson stressed the importance of coaching education and capacity building, warning coaches against match manipulation and urging them to recognize, resist, and report any suspicious activities.

“FUFA has done so many things around governance, and through the guidance of the FUFA President, the Federation has now turned its focus on the real issues that occur on the field. That exactly was the President’s vision in the formulation of the Technical Plan,” he started.

“When we talk about issues on the field, we mean coaching, players, medical and everything that operates around the pitch,” he added.

The comprehensive course consists of three modules, divided into seven blocks, and will span six months. It is the second-highest level of certification offered by CAF, with the CAF Pro License being the highest attainable level.

The course covers various aspects of football, including technical and tactical knowledge, teaching methodology, leadership, physiology, anatomy, science, nutrition, laws of the game, and media management.

Eight facilitators, including Kenyan International and CAF Coach Instructor Francis Kimanzi Mbindyo, will lead the student coaches through the 240-hour course.

The initiative aims to ensure that more highly qualified coaches are handling teams from grassroots to professional levels, meeting CAF’s benchmark for Interclub competitions like the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.

FUFA Football Development Director Ali Mwebe highlighted the federation’s efforts to fulfill the requirements of the CAF convention, having successfully organized CAF C and CAF B courses in previous years. He expressed pride in witnessing the launch of the CAF A Diploma course, a significant milestone in Uganda’s football development journey.

“The new convention of CAF came in 2019. It’s a set of guidelines standardizing the way courses are done and it’s within this that you have to tick a few things to be allowed to organize courses at different levels,” said Mwebe.

“We strategized again to embark on the requirements for CAF A and the target was 2024. So, I am happy and very proud to stand before you, witnessing the CEO open this course that is core in our technical master plan in the areas of elite coaching development.”