FIFA Elite youth coaching and goalkeeping course concludes

Photo by FUFA Media.

The inaugural FIFA Elite Youth Coaching and Goalkeeping Course wrapped up successfully at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru on Thursday.

Organized in partnership with FIFA, it aimed at enhancing elite youth football development in Uganda under the FUFA Technical Master Plan (2023–2030). Led by Callum James Christopher Irving, FIFA’s High-Performance Learning and Exchange Lead, a team of six FIFA technical experts delivered practical and theoretical modules covering player identification, coaching principles and youth development.

A total of 48 participants, 24 in coaching and 24 in goalkeeping attended the training. These included national youth team coaches and selected regional youth coaches. Speaking at the closing ceremony, FUFA’s Exco member Ronnie Kalema, emphasized the importance of applying the skills learned to improve football across the country.

“We’re proud to be agents of change. This course is part of our broader vision for capacity building and youth football transformation,” he noted.

FUFA Elite Football Manager Bashir Mutyaba thanked FIFA for the support, highlighting the course’s relevance to FUFA’s long-term goals. “These sessions are a foundation for elite player development. With recent academy regulations, we need more elite-level coaches.”

Coaches like Brian Ssenyondo (Uganda U-17) and Sheryl Botes (Uganda women’s national teams) praised the training’s depth and focus on development over performance. “The course was a golden opportunity to enhance our coaching knowledge,” said Ssenyondo.

Participants are expected to play leading roles in youth development centres nationwide. This initiative aligns with FUFA’s broader strategy, which has already trained over 300 scouts and identified more than 1,300 young talents across Uganda.

FUFA is hopeful that continued investment in coaching and development will pave the way for Uganda to emerge as a football powerhouse on and off the pitch.