In a significant achievement, a group of 27 coaches, including Victor Odhiambo Akumu, a dedicated teacher at Nyagondo Secondary School in Siaya County, graduated with their CAF ‘C’ coaching licenses on a recent Friday in Buruburu.
Victor Odhiambo Akumu, a dedicated teacher at Nyagondo Secondary School in Siaya County, achieved a significant milestone by graduating with his CAF ‘C’ coaching license on a recent Friday in Buruburu.
This achievement was made possible through the Football for Schools program, an initiative by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) aimed at fostering Youth and Women’s Football, which is central to the federation’s priorities.
The one-month coaching course was led by renowned Caf (Confederation of African Football)/FKF instructors, Zedekiah Otieno and Salim Ali.
Victor Akumu expressed his motivation to venture into coaching, emphasizing the importance of creating a conducive learning environment for school children to acquire comprehensive football knowledge and skills.
He stated, “I ventured into coaching to create a conducive learning environment for school children to acquire comprehensive football knowledge and skills. This approach ensures that they learn the game with less fear of failure and greater enjoyment, allowing them to skillfully play football, which will be beneficial in the long run.”
Zedekiah Otieno, the Caf Instructor, commended this cohort of youth coaches as the largest group to undergo and successfully complete such training in the country.
He shared his enthusiasm, saying, “This is the highest number of youth coaches we’ve had the pleasure of training. We are delighted that they can now impart knowledge to the young players.”
The coaches underwent intensive training at various levels, equipping them for the challenging task of nurturing and honing young football talents.
Otieno explained, “These coaches had to learn and interpret the structure of football and delve into match analysis, which is vital for designing effective training sessions. They also gained insights into categorizing youth players according to their various age groups.”
The categorization of players is a crucial aspect of training and development. It includes the infancy group, consisting of young children in their early stages, the pre-puberty group, the puberty group, and finally, the youth players.
Dickson Doyo, the FKF Nairobi East Secretary General, underscored the federation’s unwavering commitment to providing coaching courses, with the aim of enhancing coaches’ knowledge and skills.
He stated, “Kenya boasts numerous football teams, each with a multitude of coaches dedicated to continuous improvement in their knowledge and skills to elevate the quality of football in the country.”
Doyo emphasized that this commitment inspires the federation to persist in offering coaching courses. These programs enable coaches to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge for personal growth and contribute to the overall development of football.
As part of the federation’s strategic priorities in promoting youth and women’s football, they pledged to distribute footballs and equipment to selected schools across the nation. This initiative complements their commitment to nurturing young talents.
Additionally, teachers actively involved with school children are benefiting from the Federation’s capacity-building programs, ensuring that both educators and students have the opportunity to develop their football skills and knowledge.
Victor Akumu stands as a shining example of an educator who has significantly benefited from these coaching courses, ultimately enriching the football experience for the youth.
