By Kiyimba Bruno
kiyimba.bruno@gmail.com
The Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) Member Association Referees’ course has successfully ended at the FUFA Technical CCentre, Njeru.
The five day residential course commenced on Sunday 26th- Thursday 30th August 2018 conducted by FIFA Referees’ instructor and FUFA Referees’ Manager Samuel Egesa and Rahman Kizito Nsubuga who is a FIFA physical fitness instructor taking the budding referees through various course units.
The course saw FUFA 3rd Vice President and the State Minister for Youth and children Affairs Nakiwala Kiyingi presiding over the closing ceremony as the Guest of Honour.
While addressing the youthful class of referees, Nakiwala commended FIFA and FUFA for this brilliant initiative of empowering and teaching youths as they are the ones to take charge of the game in the future .
‘It is such a great initiative by the world football governing body together with the local football governing body to consider people of your age and start training you for the future. Therefore you should not misuse such an opportunity because you are amongst the chosen few who have studied at zero cost ‘said Nakiwala.
‘This has come at the right moment when youth football is given much attention by the FUFA with the introduction of the FUFA Juniors league in 2015 and the success of the Uganda Cubs who qualified for AFCON U17’ added the FUFA Vice President.
Nakiwala later cautioned the participants from involving in unlawful acts which may cost their lives and careers thus asked them to be active in football especially refereeing since they have acquired the required knowledge.
Yusuf Awuye who represented the Chairman UFRA Ronnie Kalema envied the young referees for the great opportunity because he had to pay Shs 1000 in 1987 to attend his first refereeing course.
‘You are such lucky that you have acquired such knowledge at no cost which was not the case during our generation. There fore I ask you to make proper use of the knowledge you have acquired so that you get to international levels’ said Awuye.
He also told them that they are members of FUFA because their body (UFRA) is amongst the special interest groups represented in the FUFA assembly but cautioned them not to keep dormant because they will not be considered for appointments.
Samuel Egesa the FUFA Referees’ Manager was quick to thank the federation and FIFA for the initiative.
He also commended the referees for total discipline during the course.
‘I am delighted with FIFA and FUFA for this move of starting with Junior referees because refereeing is about acquiring experience’said Egesa
30 referees too part in the course.
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