FUFA on Tuesday, 26th November 2024 held a football technical stakeholders’ meeting at Jevine Hotel in Kampala. The engagement saw several coaches, instructors and former player invited.
The meeting was attended by FUFA President Hon. Magogo Moses Hassim, FUFA 1st Vice President Justus Mugisha, FUFA Executive Committee Members Ronnie Kalema and Apollo Ahimbisibwe plus FUFA CEO Edgar Watson.
Also present was FIFA Regional Technical Consultant Dominique Niyionzima and FUFA Football Development Director Ali Mwebe.
The day’s discussion hinged on creation of a pathway for an elite footballer, right from the age of 13 to life after football.
FUFA President indicated it is high time that the country changed the way footballers are developed in order to create a holistic player.
“As a Federation, we have registered success in the areas of governance and business but the pillar of sport had challenges. We therefore, took the initiative of creating a synchronized way of creating a proper life cycle of a player we want,” He said.
“We introduced the FUFA Technical Master Plan that covers a player’s life in four phases of mass football, elite football, professional football and life after football. At the moment, we have mass football projects going on but what brings us here today, is elite talent development.” The President added.
FIFA Regional Technical Consultant Dominique Niyionzima was full of praise for FUFA given the various efforts made at developing the game of football in Uganda.
“One thing that has defined FUFA is leadership. I oversee 13 countries in the region but it is the first time I’m seeing an FA President attending such an engagement and he is active throughout. I have had the privilege to look through the content in your Technical Master Plan and I believe this is the game changer for Ugandan football.” He said.
The engagement started with an open-discussion where participants shared their opinions and suggestions in regard to the five salient questions asked.
The questions
1 – Uganda in the past boosted of technically gifted players who featured for a long time. Why don’t we have such players today?
2 – Why have Ugandan players failed to make the grade in the top Leagues?
3 – Uganda used to have giant, tall and strong players. Why has this changed over the years?
4 – What is Uganda’s competitive advantage over other countries?
5 – What is the most suitable philosophy and playing style for Ugandan Football?
Later in the day, Petros Koukouras, a staff in the FUFA Football Development Department presented the new philosophy and football curriculum that FUFA is drafting and will be finalised soon.
There were further presentations by Executive Secretary of the Football Development Committee, Ronnie Kalema on the new coaching education changes.
Among the changes that FUFA wants to introduce is the new grading of coaches from 1-7. Consideration of Academic qualificiations, experience and other managerial courses inorder to create holistic football coaches.
Ali Mwebe, also made a presentation about the 12 Regional Centres of Football Excellence that FUFA is creating.
He revealed that FUFA will take care of the head coaches, provide balls, structured programmes, competitions and training gear among others.
