National Sports

Blantyre rural football coaches undergo training

At least 21 football coaches in Blantyre rural are today expected to complete a five-day Football Association of Malawi (FAM) preparatory coaching course at Lunzu Primary School.

Blantyre rural sports officer Eunice Mtifukanji-Tembo said government invested K500 000 into the course, facilitated by Confederation of African Football (CAF) instructors John Kaputa and Karen Chaula, so as to uplift standards of grassroots football within her fold.

Kaputa (R) drilling the coaches

“Most of these coaches are primary and secondary school sports teachers in Lunzu zone.  It was embarrassing to note the underperformance of our schools in various soccer competitions and we realised the main problem was the coaches’ lack of basic techniques,” she said.

Mtifukanji-Tembo said they have planned to conduct a similar course in Blantyre rural’s other zones of Nankumba, Chileka, Lirangwe and Mdeka in November this year.

According to Kaputa, the course, which had 19 male and two female coaches, comprised the basic coaching principles such as laws of the game, passing and supporting and injuries in football.

Some of the participants, Bright Mwale from Army Secondary School, Charity Phiri-Kamanga from Lunzu Secondary School and Wesley Mchawe from Chilandepa Primary School—said they are now fully equipped with football coaching knowledge.

“For sure, this course will help us polish our performance in various competitions. Previously, we overlooked some of the simple but essential techniques such as ball control and we were not aware that the training of children differs in accordance with their respective age groups. We also did not know the uses of cones during training sessions,” Mwale said. n

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