Douala is hosting a workshop by the Union of Central African Football Federations (UNIFFAC) since May 12, aimed at youth football leaders. The main goal is to equip participants with the necessary tools to improve the representation of Central African teams in continental competitions.
The workshop brings together general secretaries and other officials from specialized leagues, all eager to enhance their skills in youth football governance. According to Etienne Sockeng, a FIFA-CAF instructor, there is an urgent need for development in this area. He emphasizes that youth competitions are not sufficiently developed in the UNIFFAC zone and that youth national teams need better representation at the continental level, especially the U17 and U20 categories. To achieve this, it is essential to organize youth football leagues, establish commissions, and improve the governance and administration of youth football.
The training, which spans three days, covers several key modules. These include good governance, knowledge of youth football development programs such as FIFA's TDS, amateur football, coach training, the "Football for School" program, and technical leadership. Practical sessions and presentations are also planned to assess the participants.
The workshop also highlights the essential roles of the president of the specialized youth football league and the general secretary, emphasizing their harmonious collaboration. Etienne Sockeng points out that the youth football league and the heads of youth football commissions are emanations of the Federation, which must ensure their supervision for decision-making and the implementation of the vision defined at the federal level. UNIFFAC continues to increase initiatives to strengthen football in Central Africa.
By training youth football leaders, UNIFFAC hopes to create a more favorable environment for the development of young talents and improve the competitiveness of Central African teams on the continental stage.
