FUFA’s efforts in redefining the game of football in Uganda continue to take shape by the day with numerous strategies set to achieve the aforementioned target.
Through the FUFA Technical Master Plan, FUFA seeks to cover four saliet areas namely; mass football, elite football, professional football and life after football.
With schools serving as the bedrock of football in Uganda, FUFA thought it wise to incorporate them at the different stages of the FUFA Technical Master Plan inorder to create a clear pathway of an elite player.
12 Government-aided Secondary Schools from all the 8 regions of FUFA were earmarked by the FUFA Executive Committee to serve as Centres of Football Excellence.
A one-day workshop was organised at Jevine Hotel in Kampala with FUFA meeting Head Teachers of the selected schools to explain more about the scheme.
Schools selected
Boys
Kibuli SS – Kampala Region
Mvara SS – West Nile Region
Teso College Aloet – North East Region
Gombe SS – Buganda Region
Nganwa High School – Western Region
Kabalega SS – Kitara Region
Jinja College – Eastern Region
St. Josephs College Layibi – Northern Region
Girls
Kawempe Muslim SS – Kampala Region
St. Katherine Girls – Northern Region
Masaka SS – Buganda Region
Nyakasura SS – Kitara Region
FUFA Executive Committee Member and Executive Secretary of the Football Development Commitee, Ronnie Kalema explained the synopsis of the Project and believes this move will help in transforming the game of football.
“FUFA has a vision of becoming the number one football nation in Africa on and off the pitch and that is further explained in our mission which is to develop, promote and protect football,” he said before adding, “Inorder to develop the game, FUFA took a bold step of formulating a strategy that we call the FUFA Technical Master Plan. This is a document that we have put together inorder to transform football in this country. It looks at a player from the age of 5 up to life after football.’
Dominique Niyionzima, the FIFA Regional Technical Consultant lauded FUFA and Uganda in general for the continued efforts in developing the game.
“I want to assure you that a few countries in Africa do what you are doing here. Football can only thrive where there is good governance and we really appreciate the progress you are making. To the schools, this is a good opportunity for you to contribute to the growth of football because majority of footballers horn their craft at schools.” He stated.
At the Centres of Football Excellence, FUFA will identify, support and pay the head coaches, provide training gear and organise competitions to help in nurturing of players.
Through the FUFA Talent ID framework where several scouts have been trained and designated to all districts in Uganda, talented players will be identified and placed at the respective regional centres of football excellence.
The Head Teachers and representatives of Schools who attended the meeting appreciated FUFA’s efforts in redefining the game of football and promised to embrace the new project.
“As Kibuli SS, we are proud that FUFA thought about the role we play as Schools. We have been working in isolation despite the fact that we are the breeding ground for players who go all the way to play for the national team. As Head Teachers of the selected schools, we shall rally behind FUFA on this Project and make sure we produce better and complete footballers.” Said Ibrahim Ssemakadde, the Head Teacher of Kibuli SS.
FUFA is in the process of formulating a football curriculum that will help in creating a national philosophy and playing style.
