By Hananeel Jackson

The Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria YSFON has charged grassroots coaches and players in the country to acquaint themselves of contemporary trends and modern techniques in football in the country.

National Zonal Vice President, South –South, YSFON, Mr. Kali Gwegwe gave the charge at a two day coaching clinic for grassroots coaches in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital.

Mr.Gwegwe noted that the essence of the programme was for local football coaches to benefit from the FIFA scheme for youth players.

He noted that YSFON had observed a drastic decline in the quality of coaching which according to him was the main contributing factor for the poor outing of Nigerian sportsmen and women in major competitions in recent times.

He assured local coaches in the state that the clinic would continue after this year in order to place grassroots coaches in the right conditions to cope with the dynamism in sports.

A member of the Medical Committee of the Confederation of African Football and former Executive Committee member of the Nigeria Football Federation,  Dr. Peter Singabele represented by Director of Sports, Bayelsa state sports council, Sir Braveman Wodi who said the programme was timely owing to the declining standard of the game, urged YSFON to continue training and retraining of grassroots coaches in the country.

On his part, commissioner for Youth and Sports Development Mr.Daniel Igali represented by permanent secretary, ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Patimidi Tukuru while commending YSFON for the initiative, gave an assurance that the ministry would continue to support body in its quest to achieve desired goals.

Also, The State chairman of Trade Union Congress TUC, Comrade Laye Julius charged coaches to be disciplined because their products are reflection of their character, stressing that the programme would equip local coaches with the latest skills and rules of the game.

A participant Mr. Ebenezer Atayero  gave kudos to YSFON for organizing Bayelsa state coaches to benefit from the initiative. 

Over fifty coaches are attending the programme in which a former Bendel Insurance and one time Flying Eagles Assistant Coach Mr.Monday Odigie is the resource person.