In a landmark step to further reposition sports football in the state, beyond hosting of tournaments, the Edo State Football Association (Edo FA) has announced a new directive mandating that all grassroots coaches within the state must possess the Football Coaches Association of African Nations (FCAAN) certification as the basic requirement to be eligible to sit on the technical bench during official matches, platinumnewsng.com is reporting
In a statement made available to Platinum News by the FA said the policy will take effect from the start of the new football season and is part of efforts to professionalise coaching and elevate the standard of football across the state.
In a bid to support coaches in meeting the new requirement, the Edo State Football Coaches Association, in partnership with the Edo FA, will organise structured training and certification programs to help grassroots coaches acquire the FCAAN qualification.
The association urged all interested coaches to seize this opportunity to upgrade their skills, enhance technical knowledge, and align with the professional benchmarks now required in Edo football.
The Edo FA reaffirmed its commitment to the continuous development of football at all levels and called for the cooperation of all stakeholders in implementing this new directive.
This is a great template set by the FA under the leadership of Fred Newton, to have the coaches get proper minimum coaching certification that would, in the long run, help discover and train quality players for the country.