Zambia coaches join ranks of FIFA-qualified Coach Educators

Four Zambian coaches have joined the ranks of FIFA-qualified Coach Educators in Africa after successfully completing the FIFA Coach Educator Diploma in Kigali, Rwanda.

The quartet includes former FAZ Technical Director Lyson Zulu, Chris Chibuye, Philip Munkombwe, and Franklin Malambo. Zulu, Chibuye, Munkombwe and Malambo graduated following the FIFA Coach Educators On-Site Assessment Practice held in Rwanda.

Participants underwent rigorous assessment

The program brought together 38 Coach Educators (instructors) from 13 CAF Member Associations. The participants underwent rigorous assessment in coaching course facilitation, covering both theory presentations and practical demonstrations.

The assessments were conducted in two cohorts: from 23–27 February and from 2–6 March.

The instructors had spent the past three to five years undergoing training through the FIFA Coach Educator Pathway. The program included e-learning, online classes, on-site education, and mentoring.

During the final assessment in Kigali, participants were evaluated across several competencies that define the role of a Coach Educator. These included leadership, management, technical knowledge, teaching, mentoring, and assessment.

Successful candidates were awarded the FIFA Coach Educator Diploma, adding to the growing pool of qualified Coach Educators across Africa.

Super Eagles ex-coach Eguavoen also attended

Zambia’s four representatives have been part of the pathway program for the past three to five years and their successful completion further strengthens the country’s capacity to train and develop coaches at various levels of the game.

Other participants in the program included former Super Eagles coach Augustine Eguavoen, as well as Godwin Fuludu Edema from Nigeria. Ghana was represented by Evans Augustine Adotey and Nana Kweku Agyemang, while Zimbabwe had Joseph Sibindi, Tafadzwa Mashiri, and Wilson Mutekede.

Kenya’s representatives included Salim Ali and Beldine Odemba, while Ethiopia was represented by Abraham Gebreslase. Other participants came from across the continent, including Peter Lado (South Sudan), Estifanos Asefaw (Eritrea), Daniel Ramsamy (Mauritius), Sothene Habimana (Rwanda), Jackson Semanyi (Uganda), Lamin Sambollisambou (Gambia), and Mohamed Lamin Kamara (Sierra Leone), among others.

The FIFA experts team overseeing the program was led by Giovanni Fernandes, FIFA Coaching Development Senior Manager. He was supported by Keneilwe Matibela, Coaching Development Delivery Manager, and technical experts Frans Mokashoa, John Kaputa, and Zunaid Mall.