Some football coaches in
the FCT have in Abuja commended the Search and Groom Youth for Development Centre for organising the public safety integrative training on youth resilience.
Some of the coaches who spoke to the Tidesports in separate interviews in Abuja said the training was timely as it would help in disaster management.
The Chairman of FCT Coaches Association, Godwin Bamigboye, said the training was commendable because it had exposed them to other ways football can be useful outside competition.
“It is a very huge success and the purpose of the gathering is being achieved.
“We need to appreciate the Search and Groom Centre and Mifalot Education and Society Enterprises from Israel for putting the training together,” he said.
Bamigboye said football could be used to create relief in camps for disaster victims by engaging them in football and taking their minds away from problems.
“Coaches are ready to contribute their quota in humanitarian service by enlightening the youths on what they can do during emergency situations.
“We want to specifically contribute our quota in camps for internally displaced persons, especially when we have flood.
“If we are available to give them hope by teaching them the game of football, we will help to mitigate their suffering and they will be happy because we are giving them hope.
“Football can be used as an instrument of peace and development. It can be used as an instrument of unity to bring hope to the people,” he said.
Coach Ngozi Eze of FCT Queens Female FC said her assessment of the programme was high, stating that it was very commendable.
She said the three-day programme made much impact, and more time should be given for the training.
“What I learnt in the last edition has been implemented in my team, and this has helped a lot in managing the players,’’ Eze said.
She said the training should be held yearly and the days for it should be extended for greater result.
Coach Ibrahim Bako of Medical Strikers FC of Gwagwalada said the public safety training through football was a transfer of knowledge on how to manage some players in the club.
He said the training should be done regularly to make the coaches conversant with the programme.
Also, the coach of Bwari Football Academy, David Emmanuel, said the programme was a platform to unite people who have been displaced from crises by putting smiles on their faces.
“For me, organising it annually is not enough. It should be a frequent programme, it should be taking place regularly as a platform to engage the younger ones in football,’’ he said.
Coach Gambo Danlami of AMAC FC said the programme was a good programme for youths to learn about disaster management.