Over 40 senior coaches and Technical Directors from across the African continent have assembled in Lagos to hear presentations from FA national coaches Martin Hunter and Paul Bracewell on a range of technical issues including player development at both elite and grassroots level, talent identification, strategic planning within international football, the design and implementation of coaching programmes and evaluation of coaching performance.

"The Workshop is a forum for the exchange of ideas on technical matters with a view to enriching the knowledge of coaching policies and sharing good practice", explained International Relations Officer, Kim Fisher.

"It is the result of an agreement The FA has with CAF through its International Development Programme which underlines our commitment to work with our African colleagues for the development of the game of football".

A number of leading lights of African football are attending the 4-day workshop including the national team coaches of Zambia, Patrick Phiri, and Nigeria, Christian Chukwu, as well as South Africa's new Technical Director, Marcos Falopa.

"We are holding quite a few interactive workshop sessions as it is important that everyone takes part and learns from each other. Our approach is to show what we do in England and hope that sections of the workshop will give the coaches and technical directors fresh ideas to be able to use and implement in their countries," said Martin Hunter.

A highlight of the programme was Tuesday's visit to the British Council's 'Community Action Through Sports' (CATS) project of which The FA is one of the funding partners. CATS seeks to develop life and leadership skills through football but, in so doing, has created a well-respected football institution whose young teams participate in the local Nigerian leagues with several of the youngsters picked for trials with the national team.

The project is also unique by virtue of the fact that it is 50% girls, reflecting the passion for women's football in Nigeria which is Africa's leading nation in the sport. 

Project manager for the British Council in Lagos, Andy Campbell, sent this report: "Tuesday 17th December 2003 - what a day for the Community Action Through Sports (CATS) project based in Lagos, Nigeria - a project made possible by the likes of The British Council, the English FA, VSO, British Airways and the Nigerian Grassroots Football Federation.
"We knew that a delegation from the English FA (Martin Hunter, Paul Bracewell and Kim Fisher) were in Lagos and we hoped that they would find time in a packed schedule to visit the project. Then, at about 17.45 a vehicle turned up at the CATS project - great, I (and the kids) thought, our guests had turned up.

"Before the car could reach the fencing around the CATS pitch, a 30-seater bus had appeared, followed by another 30-seater bus followed by more cars and vehicles. Everyone attending the workshop had taken time to visit the project - coaches and technical directors, international media - everyone!! 

"Our kids were carrying out their routine training sessions - a circuit of four separate exercises testing many aspects of the game - dribbling, heading first touch etc.

"The training, though, had a difference - the kids themselves were running the sessions, advising, encouraging and leading. This would not have been possible without the British Council/Youth Sports Trust Dreams and Teams initiative that has given our kids the necessary leadership and organisational skills to actively run things for themselves.
"They continued under the spotlight of a huge international audience with Martin and Paul soon joining in - both highly impressed with the technical skills, discipline, willingness to listen and learn and sheer enthusiasm that was being displayed.

"We then called everyone together for a few speeches - welcomes and thanks, songs (The Project have written a CATS anthem and a song to raise awareness on HIV/AIDS) and finally a presentation of England momentos from Martin, Paul and Kim to our kids. It was during this, that our kids became even more excited - lots of whispering, nudging, excited giggling.

"The reason for their excitement? Simple. They had spotted Christian Chukwu (Coach of Nigeria who had just returned from Accra where his entirely home-based side had beaten Ghana 1-0 in a friendly their first win in Ghana since August 1975) and Fanny Amun (Head of the Technical Department at the Nigerian Football Association).

"What a moment for CATS - the coach of the Super Eagles and the Head of the Technical Department at the Nigerian FA were on our pitch observing our kids!!

"2002 has been a brilliant year for CATS - this, a couple of days before the project closes for Christmas, seemed to be the perfect end as the sun set and the moon rose over our pitch!!  It will be a hard year to follow, but planning is well under way to ensure that 2003 is an even better year for CATS projects throughout Nigeria".

For further information, please contact Jane Bateman, Head of International Relations, tel: 020 7745 4701 or by email to Jane.Bateman@TheFA.com