- In review of the first round of the Azam Uganda Premier League (AUPL) 2017/18 season, coaches of the top flight teams have highlighted that club football and style of play are some of the key factors that will always have direct adverse impact on performance of players with the National team.
In a meeting held at Tavern woods in Rubaga on Sunday, Uganda football clubs’ coaches under their umbrella body ‘Uganda Football Coaches Association (UFCA)’ deliberated on some of the issues affecting the country’s most popular sport.
Issues discussed on ranged from statistical analysis of round one of the AUPL, conduct of coaches, players attitude and professionalism.
‘Football is about style of play, entertainment, goals, fitness and professionalism. What happens at club level reflects on the National team’ said UFCA Chairman Stone Kyambadde.
There were presentations on Communications-the relationship between Media and team officials presented by FUFA Communications Manager Ahmed Hussein, Chairman of FUFA Competitions Disciplinary Panel Deo Mutabazi while Ronnie Kalema (Chairman Uganda Football Referees Association) made a moving presentation to the coaches about refereeing.
‘A coach doesn’t need to call the media to provide them the line-up for match day. He needs to make use of the Club’s media officer to disseminate the information. Concentrate on the team and not to provide the line-up. You need to be confident while addressing the public through the media’ said Hussein guided the coaches.
‘You need to be mindful of your actions and what you say out in public as the whole world expects you (coaches) to be role models hence creating a positive image and public interest about football’ added Hussein.
Hussein further requested the coaches to create time to find how to communicate both internally and externally with their players, club officials and fans to avoid distorted information being shared by different stakeholders.
The relationship between coaches and referees during while on the field of play was also discussed on.
‘You can’t be a coach and at the same time act as referee. Referees have designated people who asses their performance at the end of every match. Such reports give us a hint of what to do with the appointments. Tensions on the touch lines between coaches and referees during matches are not good for the image of football’ said Kalema.
Concerns on how their disciplinary sanctions are handled was picked on by Mutabazi who took them through Article 30 of the FUFA Competitions (Misconduct and Sanctions) and 31(Judicature) which highlight on hooliganism, brawls, Misconduct against Match officials, Misconduct by team technical officials, competitions disciplinary panel among others.
Other concerns included player physical fitness, tactical abilities, and nutrition plus talent identification right from the grass roots.
The coaches resolved to put into practice a uniform style of play that gives players an opportunity to express themselves on the pitch especially after crossing the half way line.
With the fixtures of the AUPL second round released, coaches were urged to concentrate on being more tactical if the current statistics are to be enhanced.
Coaches who attended;
1. Kyambadde Stone – Chairman UFCA
2. Kirumira Simon – Vice Chairman
3. Kaddu Badru – Secretary UFCA/KCCA FC
4. Majidah Nantandah – VP Technical UFCA
5. Ssali Paul Mukisa – FUFA Delegate
6. Anyau Frank – Member
7. Mutabaruka John – Member
8. Kiwanuka Daniel – KCCA FC
9. Bamweyana Douglas – Member
10. Bisaso Shafiq – Express FC
11. Lule Mathias – Uganda Cranes Assistant coach
12. Mubiru Abdallah – Police FC
13. Kiwanuka Paul – Bright Stars FC
14. Lwanga Stephen – Bright Stars FC
MAIN IMAGE: A group photo of coaches and Instructors at Tavern Woods on Sunday in Rubaga.
