FUFA Pitch Management and Maintenance Workshop
20th – 22nd February 2020
Mandela National Stadium – Namboole
FUFA Pitch Management and Maintenance Workshop for Groundsmen successfully ends at Mandela National Stadium – Namboole has officially ended at Mandela National Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Concentrating on the pitch activities by FUFA is another step taken within the area of capacity building to acquire qualified pitch Groundsmen for Stadiums in order to overcome the challenges in Club Licensing.
The closing ceremony for the workshop was honored by Chairman FUFA Competitions Committee and Exco Member Hamid Juma who also attended the workshop from the start.
In attendance was the FUFA CEO Edgar Watson and his deputy (in charge of football), Decolas Kiiza.
35 Participants took part in the 3-day workshop that was conducted by UEFA expert Philip Fifield.
The 9 days program is under the UEFA Assist Project and was aimed at educating stadium Groundsmen on how to maintain and manage pitches to overcome the challenge of poor pitch grass.
The chief Guest Hamid Juma appreciated participants for the commitment they exposed during the workshop and emphasized them to implement what they have learnt.
‘I’m pleased with the commitment of the participants during the course. I urge you to implement what you have learn from the expert. If we have good pitches, we must have good games which are key to achieving our vision of becoming number one on the continent on and off the pitch.‘ Said Juma
On the other hand, FUFA CEO Edgar Watson commended UEFA for supporting the program and confirmed that FUFA will pick 2 participants to travel abroad to share and acquire more knowledge on Pitch management and Maintenance.
‘As FUFA we are very much honored to have the first-ever training for Groundsmen and we appreciate UEFA for supporting the program through the UEFA Asssist project. It’s a step to overcome the challenge of poor pitches. We shall get quarterly reports from participants annually to follow-up on what they have worked on. I advise participants not to sit back but at least do volunteer work to practice what they have learnt however FUFA has a plan to send at least two Groundsmen abroad to gain more knowledge on pitch management and maintenance.’ Said Edgar Watson.
During the course, Groundsmen were taught how to test and treat soils for pitches, how to maintain good and green grass, how and when to use the equipment for maintaining pitches, when and how to irrigate the pitch, among others.
FUFA Club Licensing Manager Ivan Kintu Bayige was also confident that the training for Groundsmen will unleash the challenges in the process of Club Licensing mainly on pitch requirements.
‘Our program for Pitch Management and Maintenance has ended successfully. The program has run for 9 days and we are confident that the knowledge acquired by the Groundsmen will overturn the challenge of poor pitches. The process of club licensing will be much easier if whatever is taught will be put in place by the Groundsmen.’ Said FUFA Club Licensing Manager Ivan Kintu
On behalf of the participants, Vivian Ttendo who is the Sports and Recreation Officer at Mandela National Stadium Namboole confirmed that with the training from the workshop a lot is going to be put in place at the National Stadium and before the international game on March 28rth whatever they have learnt will implement to have a better playing pitch.
‘We have learnt a lot from the training and I’m very sure whatever we have received in the workshop will be put in place before the international match on 28th March. It will be a better pitch with such knowledge we have acquired.’ Said Ttendo.
All participants received certificates and are qualified Groundsmen for football pitches.
The Program started on Saturday 15th February with testing and examining soils and grass for 17 stadiums pitches in Arua, Jinja, Kampala, Masaka, and Mbarara.
Participants
Tabu Godfrey (Mbarara City FC), Tumuhamye Ronald (Rwampara), Niwagaba Aggrey (Kabale), Edson Shaban SABABA (Arua), Lumala Adrian (StarTimes Stadium Lugogo), Ssemanda Juma (StarTimes Stadium, Lugogo), Kabega Ronald (Kyabaggu Stadium, Wakiso), Ndawula Fred (Makerere Univ), Kabugo Ibrahim (Point Plus Association), Mulindwa Edward (St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende) Andama Kennedy (St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende), Semanda Richard (Futsal), Ssonko Charles (Nakivubo), Kawadwa Dauda (Pont Plus Association), Bagenayobo Innocent (FUFA Technical Centre), Katende David (NCS), Zirimenya Nicolas (NCS), Bainamani Bernard (UPL), Kirunda Mubarak (Jinja Municipal), Gordon Mundeyi (UPL), Ssewanyana Jamil (Mandela National Stadium, Namboole), Vivian Ttendo (Mandela National Stadium, Namboole), Wanume Abdul (Jinja Municipal), Ankunzine Frank (Western Region FA), Barugahara Abdu (Dove FC, Masindi), Mumbere John (Kavumba Recreation Ground), Bananura Benon, Brian Kasibante (Turfland Limited), Balenzi Fred (Grounds expert), Semujju Eugen (SEFOROZA), Osama John (Grounds expert), Kyomuhendo Flavia (Wankulukuku Stadium), Mutege Wycliff (Luzira Prison) Mpiima Samuel, Masiko John Bosco (UYFA)