The FIFA Global Football Development Department under Training & Education focus of Talent Development Scheme has staged for the first time two concurrent elite youth coaches’ workshops for Goalkeeper coaches, and Youth Coaches at FUFA Technical Centre, Njeru on Monday. The two high-level elite youth courses will run for five days – until Thursday May 23, 2025.
The two FIFA on-demand courses are were requested by Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) from FIFA, to support the elite youth football development of the FUFA’s long-term Technical Master Plan (TMP) 2023–2030 that aims at nurturing elite youth football for both boys and girls.
These courses are therefore intended to enhance skills of coaches and also build local capacity in elite youth football development.
All coaches involved with national youth teams, along with selected youth coaches from FUFA’s eight regions are part of the 48 trainees (24 in goalkeeping and 24 in coaching) taking part in the workshop presided over by FIFA technocrats.
Some of the coaches undergoing the training include; Sheryl Botes (National team coach – women),Brian Ssenyondo (U-17 national team), Simeon Massa (U-17 national team), Ronald Ssali (U-17 national team), Billy Stephen Kiggundu (U-20 national team), Bashir Mutyaba (Elite football manager), Ayub Khalifa (Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC).
Six FIFA top international Technical Experts are facilitating the courses led by the FIFA’s Lead of High-Performance Learning and Exchange Lead Callum James Christopher Irving from England.
Other FIFA experts in Njeru are; Christos Kanelleas from Greece, FIFA’s Training & Education Project Delivery Manager, Alejandro Alfredo Heredia from Argentina, Adel Amorouche from Belgium, Cameron Euston Cox from South Africa, and Simon Paul Jennings from the United Kingdom.
FUFA Executive Committee Member – Ronnie Kalema, who also doubles as the Executive Secretary of Football Development at FUFA, represented the FUFA President – Eng.Moses Magogo as the guest of honour at the opening ceremony. Mr. Kalema reiterated the vision of FUFA, talked in depth about the Technical Master Plan and also advised the participants to be open to learning.
“Our vision is to become the best footballing nation on and off the pitch in Africa, but you can’t aspire to be number one if you don’t do things that number ones do. That’s why I am not surprised that these courses are starting from Uganda,” he said.
“On the pitch, our aspiration is to win the FIFA World Cup, and off the pitch is to have the best coaches who can coach at the world cup even when we are not there. If the national football team of Uganda is not there, at least a goalkeeping coach or any other technical person should be there to represent the country.”
“But to achieve that vision we have emphasized that we have to develop the game of football in the entire country where we have eight regions, but we have to put into consideration that whatever we are developing has to be promoted to international standards.”
“What we have done as FUFA is to develop what we call a Technical Master Plan for seven years. We want every corner of this country to play football, and that’s mass football. So with mass football, we believe that every Ugandan should have a ball in their homes and the choice of playing is theirs as a family.”
“We also want to be very deliberate in talent identification, player pathway up to the professional level, and that’s why we have the elite side of the game.”
“However, we are also aware that as we try to develop the players, those players have to find a professional environment – and those are the clubs. And that’s why we have a professional football manager – Brian to work with the clubs to create a professional environment that will help these coaches and players perform better.”
“To the participants, here we are. We have FIFA, they have the knowledge, so we need to pick it. Our role as FUFA is to talk to FIFA to send us experts and whenever they’re here we need to tap into whatever knowledge they have so that tomorrow we are the agents of change. If we don’t do that then we can never achieve our mission.”
“Having said all that, I want to open up these courses and pray that they are very successful.”
List of Participants – Elite Youth Coaching Course
- Zungu Hassan – Vipers Sports Club
- Mutyaba Bashir – Elite Football Manager
- Sheryl Botes – National Teams Coach (Women)
- Kabale Dan Bamwogereiza – BUL FC
- Mudholo Shafiq – Police FC
- Kitindidde Frank – Youth Coach (Proline)
- Katende Jerome Raymond – FUFA Chief Scout
- Brian Umony – Youth Coach
- Natumbwe Sharifah – Talent ID Officer
- Kiiza Sharon – Kampala Queens
- Ahumuza Collins – U-17, U-20 National Teams
- Brian Ssenyondo – U-17 National Team
- Okhuti Samson Ceaser – West Nile Region
- Massa Simeon – U17 National Team
- Mbekeka Oliver – Lugazi Fc
- Tonny Mawejje – Wakiso Gaints Fc
- Ssali Ronald – U17 Asst.National Team
- Mpiima Saka – Kcca Junior Team
- Lutalo Hamuza – Victoria University
- Umar Abdallah Loi – Youth Coach
- Tumusime Vicent – Kampala University/ Kigezi Province
- Ayieko Lukula Charles – Busoga United
- Kintu Jimmy Mwera – St Noa-U.C.U
- Ayub Khalifa – Kawempe Muslim Ladys Fc
- Mugerwa Simon Peter – Youth Coah
- Nsubuga Allan Magunda – Women National Teams
List of Participants – Elite Youth Goalkeeping Course
- Kiberu Mubarak – Vipers Sc
- Magada Kenneth – U17 Goal Keeping Coach
- Tezigwa Kenrogers – U17, U20 National Teams And Maroons Fc
- Ssebuliba George – Maroons Fc
- Ssebagala Swaibu – Gaddafi Fc
- Kimera Ali – Vipers Fc
- Kiggunda Stephen Billy – U20 National Team
- Kawooya Sowedi – Kampala Queens
- Nakiguba Cissy Gaudensia – National Teams
- Kakooza Allan – Bukedea Comprehessive School
- Kawalya Samuel – Goal Keeping Coach
- Mugisha Ibrahim – Bright Stars Fc
- Egesa Andrew – Edgars Youth
- Damba Jamil – Ura Fc
- Yasin Mugabi – Kcca Fc
- Mbowa Solomon – St Noa
- Ssali Samuel – Edgars Youth
- Joseph Emitu – Junior Eagles
- Matovu Kim Fatma – Black Spider Academy
- Kaido Sharon – Player
Upon completion of the courses, these coaches are expected to take up key roles within various elite youth development centre across the country.
