Female C-License course provides boost
Twenty women have gained coaching knowledge after going through a five-day FIFA/OFC C-License coaching course which concluded yesterday at Fiji FA Academy in Suva.
The five-day course saw attendees take part in both theory and practical sessions which included some current Digicel Kulas players and district coaches.
Margret Aka, the course’s instructor said how important it is to keep giving girls and women who want to play, coach, referee the opportunity to do so,.
“The outcome of this course was not only the ability to educate, but to strengthen the network of women leaders within the region and empower them to lead the development of women’s football within their own districts, and to support each other to lift the game in the country,” Aka said.
“It is important that we provide opportunities to further the education and development of all girls and women across all regions, and through the FIFA Women’s Football Development Programmes every Member Association can access programmes to support the growth of their women’s game.
“The Coach Education Scholarship is a key FIFA Women’s Development Programme that supports two of our FIFA Women’s Football Strategy pillars, ‘Develop and Grow’ and ‘Educate and Empower.
The former PNG international said this was the first course of this type for Fiji which all females took part in.
“I am happy to be part of them to share my knowledge and some experiences and help them grow as coaches, “said Aka
The first woman to coach a men’s team in PNG said the main objective was to equip the participants with vast knowledge of coaching.
“This is to help the participants to learn to coach and increase female coaches in the country and hopefully this will inspire more females to take up football and coaching,’
“It is really good to see some current national reps have shown interest in coaching and I hope when they finish playing they can stream into coaching. Coaching is not only about football, it can mean other things in their own capacities especially learning coaching is important for their own development in their own careers as well.”
“I hope whatever they have learned from this course they can take it back to their districts,”
Aka said course participants will now receive ongoing support and feedback as they continue on their coaching journey back in their respective Member Associations.
“It was really heartening to see the growth in the coaches from the beginning to the end of the course,” Aka said.
“We are now looking forward to seeing the coaches head back to their districts where they can apply their new knowledge and techniques in a practical environment.
