License ‘C’ coaches to tap talents at the grassroots
Desirous of developing soccer at the grassroots in a meaningful manner , and nurture the potentials of the youth at tender ages, the Technical Directorate of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) is organising a series of courses for License ‘C’ coaches in the Western and Central regions.
Advertisement
The one-week intensive programme, being attended by 50 License ‘C’ coaches, including a woman from each region, is expected to build the capacity of the participants.
It would be extended to the other regions to accelerate the grooming of the coaches at that level, and also support them to understand and appreciate the rudiments of coaching.
This, according to the organisers, would broaden the horizon of the participants in the acquisition of the requisite technical knowhow and expertise in tapping the talents of the youth.
Seasoned CAF instructors, such as Messrs Ben Koufie, Anthony Kwabena Edusei, Mas-Ud Dramani and Francis Oti-Akenten ,are among the instructors taking the participants through the coaching programmes.
Briefing the Daily Graphic about the programme, the Technical Director of the GFA, Mr. Francis Oti Akenten, said their goal was to speed up the training of the participants for them to be at the forefront of scouting and tapping the talents of the youth with the abilities of using soccer as a profession.
“They are at the grassroot level, so it is important to build their capacity more meaningfully, and with this, we will be on course to tapping the talents of the youth interested in soccer very early, groom them in an effective manner for them to become soccer stars in future,” he explained.
On the type of programmes being offered the participants, Mr Oti-Akenten noted “we are offering them both theoretical and practical coaching programmes, and also building their capacity in preparation towards acquiring license B certificates after two years”
He mentioned principles of play, fundamental criteria, psychology, small sided games, modern warm up before the game and the match, as well as methods of coaching, among others, as some of the programmes being offered.
He said former soccer stars such as Ben Owu and his brother, George Owu, Angelo Dedon, Akakpo Patron, Willie Brown, Gertrude Amo (the only lady among them) and a senior administrator of at Football for Hope, were among the participants.
He said since developing soccer at the grassroot was key to the sustenance of soccer in the country, they would remain focused. This ,he noted, would enable them to realise their cherished ambitions.
“ Coaches with license ‘A’ should have been at the forefront of tapping the talents of the youth at in the early ages, but it is not easy to use them at that level, hence the need to build the capacity of License ‘C’ coaches for them to do it” he explained.