In an effort to improve the standard of futsal in Namibia, the Namibia Football Association, in collaboration with FIFA and Futsal Namibia, recently hosted a five-day futsal coaching course in Windhoek. The FIFA Futsal Coaching Course concluded with a final theory session, followed by a certificate handover ceremony.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, FIFA Course Instructor Graeme Dell applauded participants for their dedication throughout the training and urged them to play an active role in developing the sport in Namibia.
"I'm pleased to tell you that we have kept a focus on looking at a potential development plan for futsal across Namibia. You as a group have defined a vision, you have considered a strategy, you've looked at and understood what planning to achieve that vision looks like, and you've dictated and located a method and a methodology by which to deliver that plan," Dell said.
Futsal Namibia Chairperson Andrei Tirtirau echoed similar sentiments, congratulating the participants on their commitment and encouraging them to continue contributing to the growth of futsal in the country.
"My appointment with the FIFA Football Committee is also giving us a voice, not just as Namibia but as Namibia Futsal, to really shape the structure of futsal internationally in the next four years... I look forward to seeing the fruits of this—to seeing new teams entering leagues, to see new academies popping up everywhere, because in the end, this is how we're going to grow Futsal Namibia together," Tirtirau noted.
Some of the participants who successfully completed the course shared their experiences and the skills they gained during the training. Cheila Nunda, a coach at Quality FC, highlighted the importance of empowerment within the sport.
"It was an amazing journey. I learned that I need to think outside the box. Our instructor was excellent in giving us the tools. Now, as women, we need to start empowering other women so that we can develop futsal," Nunda explained.
Jane Toivi, Sport Director at Dynamic Youth Sports Academy, discussed the potential for social impact, while Kirubel Hailu of Windhoek International School focused on the educational benefits for the youth.
"Since I'm the programs director for the academy, I've already been having a program which is grassroots community policing and crime prevention through sports in Namibia, which now brings me another vision of how I'm going to go about it with futsal... there is now how we are going to combat crime through sports in Namibia with futsal," Toivi said.
Kirubel Hailu added: "The knowledge that I got, which is future planning and everything, I need to implement what I learned here first of all in the school because that's where the young generation is, and second of all in our team by ourselves. Although we're older in age, these things can still be implemented and then grow Futsal Namibia as a whole."
A total of 26 participants were certified after completing both the theory and practical components of the coaching course. The closing ceremony was attended by the Director of Sport, Jo-Ann Manuel, as well as the NSSU National Coordinator.