Mzuzu, December 1: Roscher Youth Development Centre a Non Governmental Organisation based in northern Malawi’s provincial town of Rumphi over the weekend conducted a coaching clinic for thirty grassroots soccer referees.
The Executive Director of the organisation, Moir Walita told African Sports Monthly Magazine that his organisation embarked on the initiative with funding from a Germany based organization Support Malawi Heidelberg E.V.
The coaching clinic instructor was former Malawi FIFA referee Kalyoto Ngosi was aimed at equipping grass-root referees with advanced knowledge of the game.
Walita lamented Malawi grass-root football is receiving little attention from major stakeholders in the country’s soccer fraternity though it contributes greatly to the topflight clubs in the country.
The Executive Director of the organisation, Moir Walita told African Sports Monthly Magazine that his organisation embarked on the initiative with funding from a Germany based organization Support Malawi Heidelberg E.V.
The coaching clinic instructor was former Malawi FIFA referee Kalyoto Ngosi was aimed at equipping grass-root referees with advanced knowledge of the game.
Walita lamented Malawi grass-root football is receiving little attention from major stakeholders in the country’s soccer fraternity though it contributes greatly to the topflight clubs in the country.
“When Malawi national soccer team in the international tournaments our high expectations always end in disappointments. When it is time to look for solutions we only treat the symptoms ignoring the root cause,” explained Walita.
He proposed that stakeholders in the game should not only rush sponsoring tournaments but also take interest in building the capacity of the personnel working with grass-root talent like teachers in primary and secondary schools and those with community teams.
He said most of such personnel like referees and lack essential knowledge in the rules of the game which in the end breeds violence at soccer venues.
“What we need to know as a country is that we are not doing well in the international tournaments because we are not doing enough to develop the game from the grass-root football.
Most of those handling raw talent have shallow knowledge of the game. Most only know that soccer starts from the centre circle. There is no essential knowledge in the like how to polish up the raw talent they handle into a diamond,” explained Walita.
Tobias Chapweteka Mwale, Chairperson of Rumphi District Sports Committee and a representative of Football Association of Malawi (FAM) provincial committee appealed to other stakeholders to emulate Roscher gesture.
He concurred with sentiments raised by Walita that incidents of violence and hooliganism that have been happening at most games played in the district is because most of grass-root officiating personnel are not fully equipped with advanced rules of the game.
“People go to soccer venues to get entertained and build friendships. Like any other game we expect to have winners and losers. You should put into practice what you have learnt here.
Most incidences of violence are caused by you referees who in line of your duty fail to strictly adhere to the rules of the game,” said Mwale.
Rumphi which is 66kilometres from the Malawi northern provincial city of Mzuzu is renowned for producing Flames striker, Frank Gabadhinoh Mhango who now stars for South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) side Bloemfontein Celtic.
He proposed that stakeholders in the game should not only rush sponsoring tournaments but also take interest in building the capacity of the personnel working with grass-root talent like teachers in primary and secondary schools and those with community teams.
He said most of such personnel like referees and lack essential knowledge in the rules of the game which in the end breeds violence at soccer venues.
“What we need to know as a country is that we are not doing well in the international tournaments because we are not doing enough to develop the game from the grass-root football.
Most of those handling raw talent have shallow knowledge of the game. Most only know that soccer starts from the centre circle. There is no essential knowledge in the like how to polish up the raw talent they handle into a diamond,” explained Walita.
Tobias Chapweteka Mwale, Chairperson of Rumphi District Sports Committee and a representative of Football Association of Malawi (FAM) provincial committee appealed to other stakeholders to emulate Roscher gesture.
He concurred with sentiments raised by Walita that incidents of violence and hooliganism that have been happening at most games played in the district is because most of grass-root officiating personnel are not fully equipped with advanced rules of the game.
“People go to soccer venues to get entertained and build friendships. Like any other game we expect to have winners and losers. You should put into practice what you have learnt here.
Most incidences of violence are caused by you referees who in line of your duty fail to strictly adhere to the rules of the game,” said Mwale.
Rumphi which is 66kilometres from the Malawi northern provincial city of Mzuzu is renowned for producing Flames striker, Frank Gabadhinoh Mhango who now stars for South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) side Bloemfontein Celtic.
By: Joel Chirwa
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