In line with the prime agenda of identifying and nurturing talents from the grassroots, Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) continues to outline the strategies and programmes planned therein.
After Launching the women live your goals, community grass roots and the FUFA Juniors league, the federation is now fronting FUFA Schools of Excellence programme.
The programme kicked off with the first consultative meetings and strategies laid to bear ripe fruits in the near future.
A consultative meeting for schools and FUFA officials has taken place on Tuesday, 14th July 2015 at the federation headquarters in Mengo.
FUFA Chairman Youth committee, Mr. Justus Mugisha, also the first Vice President has drawn a long time programme for this project.
In the meeting attended by the FUFA President, Eng. Moses Magogo who also addressed the school officials, 7 of the 12 schools (Government funded) targeted attended.
Kigezi High School, Masaka S.S, Kibuli S.S, SMACK, Mvara, Teso College Aloet and Jinja S.S attended as Ntare school, Layibi college missed with apologies.
Eng Moses Magogo highlighted;
Initially our plan was to have Fufa visit the schools but we were advised that we have all the team members in one place and also have a chance to visit the home of football. The Process of a complete player starts at a certain stage which most players have missed in the developmental stages for any footballer
He added;
I’m excited to have this project kick started. Let’s not miss this stage of football development. We would have loved every school to be part of this project but finances couldn’t allow. We identified eight traditional schools. This stage helps kids learn football and become excellent football players.
The other programmes will be introduced to the schools in the areas of refereeing, career coaching, creating administrators and many others.
The FUFA President cautioned the Games masters, on player grabbing from schools to join clubs.
The players will be signed under the academy units which FUFA will register and be beneficial in future for the schools and football at large.
The schools selected need to give FUFA a feedback within two weeks so that the programme is captured in the budgetary process for 2016.
Both girls and boys have equal opportunity for all human beings. The women’s football is opening up oportunities, so we need to give our girls an environment to succeed’
The schools’ representatives received 3 balls each and a Uganda Cranes jersey from the FUFA President.
Aims And Objectives of Starting FUFA Schools of Excellence
• To engage more children of school going age in playing more organized football at the same time acquire necessary required academic standards.
• To diversify football talent as a tool of holistic development for the youth of the country.
• To identify and develop sports talent amongst school going youth.
• To promote the game of football.
• To create working partnership with schools and FUFA.
• To ultimately, scout talented children for FUFA formal youth training structures.
• To nurture such talent towards excellence in sport
• To develop and educate a pool of school coaches.
• To spot, train and develop players who shall form the senior and junior national teams which shall compete to the highest level in Uganda, Africa and beyond.
• To invest in the schools of Excellence so that it develops into a talent developer of choice in Uganda.
OBJECTIVES:
• To develop players to a standard consistent with the highest levels in football
• To establish squads for National junior and senior teams.
• To establish a challenging and structured technical programme, which is to be followed by all coaching staff
• To provide a suitable football games programme for age groups.
Benefits of the Schools of Excellence Programme:
– Intellectual footballers will be produced
– Development of skills among schools
– Correspondences
-Provision of equipment to schools
-Competitions
Those who attended:
Neriah Candiga – Mvara S.S Deputy Head Teacher
Mawa James Onzima- Sports Master, Mvara S.S
Gilbert Katushabe – Kigezi High School
Stephen G. Mugume – Kigezi High School
Meddie Sserwadda – Masaka S.S
Erias Kasujja – Kibuli S.S
Ronald Muyanja – St Mary’s College Kisubi (SMACK)
David Ojilong – Teso College Aloet
Samuel Mugabi – Jinja S.S
Aisha Male-MAsaka SS
Nakalya Abdallah-Kibuli SS
