The strategic framework of FUFA administration since 2013 has seen the creation of (8) key focus areas aimed at realizing the FUFA Vision and Mission.
Among them, is Football Development that covers areas which were struggling previously.
Initially it was called the Technical Department before changes were made in 2018 renaming it Football Development Department which now has four full time staff to handle football matters in; Youth Football, Women Football, Capacity Building, Refereeing Development, Sports Science, Beach Soccer and Futsal.
The past 96 years of FUFA’s history have witnessed the growth of the game under various leaders. FUFA has grown spontaneously right from the first President of the federation Sekabakka Daudi Chwa II to the current head (27th FUFA President) Eng. Moses Magogo.
All the leaders have immensely contributed to the game.
The creation of the FUFA Juniors League in 2015 provided a platform of a young and vibrant staff at FUFA Bashir Mutyaba to take charge of a project that many thought would suffer still birth. It is a league designed to cater for players under the age of 17.
The story has since changed as products of the project are so many to give testimony.
Mutyaba is the FUFA Youth Development Manager who works under the supervision of FUFA Football Development Director Ali Mwebe.
In a detailed interview with www.fufa.co.ug, Mutyaba notes that FUFA’s is to be the Number one football Nation in Africa on and off the field.
He is currently coordinating the U17 National team preparing for the CAF U17 CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers due next month in Rwanda as he also keeps a close eye on what is happening in Tanzania where Uganda entered a team in the CECAFA U20 tournament-another continental qualifiers tournament.
FUFA media brings you the excerpts from the interview with Mutyaba-the CAF B Licensed coach.
What is the value of youth football development programs in Uganda?
Bashir Mutyaba: FUFA has a strategic plan and football development is one of its focus areas.
We have youth football falling in this department and we are looking at ensuring that all youth players are given opportunity to be developed from a young age and getting exposure through the youth national teams.
We have an objective of ensuring that we engage them in as many youth competitions as possible at both domestic and international level.
We need to nurture them to ensure a strong foundation and final product for Ugandan football and Uganda Cranes.
Why has FUFA given these two teams-U17 and U-20 ample time for camping?
Bashir Mutyaba: We are defending champions of the zonal qualifiers that were hosted in 2018 by Tanzania.
We are preparing these boys to ensure that first of all we defend the trophy they won in 2018 during the zonal qualifiers when Uganda qualified for the very first time to the AFCON U17 Finals.
It was prudent for us to ensure that the coaches and players get ample time so that we go and give our best during the tournament and also qualify for the U17 AFCON 2021 and the U-20 tournament.
What targets do you have for the youth projects?
Bashir Mutyaba: We have several targets and one of them is empowering the Talent Identification System which will help us pick on the best of the best to help them develop further through the youth national teams.
What targets has FUFA set for the U17 team ahead of the forthcoming AFCON/CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers?
Bashir Mutyaba: We are going for nothing but trophy since we are the defending champions. We have no shortcut. We need to ensure that first of all we win the championship as well qualify. The coaches are very much aware that their target is to help the team to qualify for the AFCON U17 2021 that will be held in Morocco.
Comment about age cheating in Africa and how it has affected the growth of the game?
Bashir Mutyaba: Age cheating has been a challenge for youth football in Africa for several years.
Several teams have been eliminated in championships simply because of age cheating.
FUFA ensures that we eliminate the vice.
Our programs like the FUFA Juniors league help us to screen the players before they engage in any youth competition.
We have set up a data base of information about all youth players in Uganda.
We ensure that we collect information about the players, their age, background to avoid challenges related to the vice that stunts the growth of the game.
Where do you see Uganda in the next five years with these youth projects?
Bashir Mutyaba: FUFA’s vision is to become the number one football Nation in Africa on and off the field.
The youth projects are getting support from the FUFA Executive and FIFA. The future is bright with our youth programmes.
We shall conquer Africa soon.
FUFA Achievements
Youth Football
- Recruited a full time FUFA Youth Football Development Manager to majorly handle the FUFA Youth Project that has the element of Youth Competitions (FUFA U17 Juniors League, Odilo), Drassroots football, Academies, National Junior teams, National football player development curriculum and Talent Identification.
- Continued to partner and provide technical support to organisers of youth competitions like Copa and Airtel Rising Stars
- Trained over 50 FUFA Juniors League coaches under the FIFA Youth Coaches Programme
- Entered Teams for all International Youth Football Tournaments ( CECAFA, CAF and FIFA)
- Created a pool of 400 players who feature in the FUFA Juniors League every season.
- Over 150 players have graduated from the FUFA Juniors League to the Senior (Professionals Leagues).
- The collection of players’ data at various tournaments has reduced the vice of age cheating in our competitions.
- Introduction of National Football player Development curriculum
- Creation of FUFA Registered Academy Rules and Regulations
- Establishment of a Talent Identification system.
- Champions of CECAFA U17 CAF Zonal qualifiers
- Qualified for AFCON U17 in 2018 for the very first time in Ugandan football history.
- Champions of the inaugural CECAFA U15 Championship 2019
- Bridged the gap between Uganda Youth Football Association and FUFA
- Provided Technical and Financial support to organizers of youth football competitions
- Established pilot projects for U15 League in Kampala and Buganda regions
- Decentralization of the FUFA Juniors League to regional level to attract more youth players, youth coaches thus enhancing development of youth football country wide.
