PORT MORESBY – The Papua New Guinea Football Association (PNGFA) has rolled-out its Junior Certificate Soccer Coaching Course in one of the countries biggest Rugby League strongholds, the tough suburb of Morauta.
The week long course is designed to teach the basics of soccer coaching at grassroots level and, it is hoped, bring through a new generation of exciting young football talent.
Southern Region Development Officer and Course Instructor, Taku Niebo, said the junior certificate course was especially for newcomers to football who wanted to coach children’s teams.
Niebo said: “The main aim was to teach the basics of football coaching to the people of Morauta who wanted to take up junior football coaching.
Port Moresby has thousands of youngsters who play a variety of sports, but there is often very little structure and even fewer knowledgable coaches around to supervise and provide for the needs of young footballers."
“This course will give them the appropriate preparation for football coaching to take out to the Morauta suburbs,” he said.
He said some of the participants have coached previously, but have not received specialised training or attended a technical course of any type before.
"The participants clearly value the opportunity to learn the coaching craft and their enthusiasm is inspiring," Niebo said.
Rugby League-made Morauta would now have a base of junior football coaches able to provide a solid platform for the strengthening of grassroots development.
The course was conducted at the Morauta Lions Vocational Centre with twenty-one participants involved – more than the number expected.
” The Morauta Soccer Association were very happy about the coaching course and the numbers we have.
It’s been so successful, we’ve discussed the possibility of conducting some refereeing clinics very soon.
I think Morauta Soccer Association has a very bright future ahead of it," Niebo said.
The newly established Morauta Soccer Association has 16 clubs taking part in their first junior competition this year with divisions ranging from U-15 to senior premier divisions.
PNGFA will accredit the course participants with Junior Coaching Certificates.