Lesotho, landlocked within the Republic of South Africa, is one of The FA’s partners under the ‘UEFA-CAF Meridian Project’ which brings together European national football associations with their counterparts in Africa.
Brian explained "the main objective of the visit was to support LeFA with the development of a coach education programme which will get more players into the game by raising the standards of coaching and in the longer term result in improved player performance at all levels".
"In order for the programme to be sustainable, FA support is being provided to Lesotho’s elite coaches to become the country’s coach educators of the future".
"During the first week a five day FA Level One Certificate in Coaching Football Course was conducted at the Bambatha Ts'ita Sports Arena in Maseru to twenty-six leading Lesotho coaches. The group was made up of former professional players, coaches from Lesotho’s Premiership Clubs and LeFA National Coaching Staff".
"Sixteen coaches were chosen from the first week and during the second week a three day Tutor Training Course was organised and delivered. Interactive workshops were provided on Learning Styles, Presentation Skills and the Learning Cycle, leading to candidate assessment of both theoretical and practical delivery".
"All sixteen coaches were awarded LeFA tutor status and given a certificate for completing the FA Level 1 Coaching Course" said Brian.
During the visit both FA course tutors met with LeFA officials to support football development plans including a national coach development strategy. An internal consultation event was held on the final day of the visit and attended by ten LeFA staff including the acting Chief Executive and other Executive Board members.
Brian concluded by thanking both the Jersey FA and The FA for providing such a fantastic CPD opportunity and thanked LeFA officials and coaches for their hard work, assistance and hospitality during his stay in Lesotho.
Notes to Editors:
Lesotho has a population of around 2 million and is entirely surrounded by South Africa. It is an extremely poor country with average life expectancy only 43 years for men and 42 for women. Lesotho is also one of many sub-Saharan African countries ravaged by the HIV virus which is conservatively thought to infect around a third of its population
The FA have been supporting the development of the football as part of the Meridian Project with Fabio Capello and Ray Clemence visiting recently (see www.thefa.com/TheFA/InternationalRelations/NewsAndFeatures/CapelloLesotho_dayone.htm).
For further information please call Brian Oliver on 07797 752215.