Two sports officials from Football Association of England (FA England) are in Gulu this week to train referees and school club coaches as part of a sports development partnership.
Stephen Sypmza, the lead FA England official, says the footballers will be trained in good referring, football regulations and how to attract new talent to the game. He says Gulu district, like most of northern Uganda, has a wealth of talent, but because of years of war and turmoil, the growth of professional football stagnated.
Aldo Otto Okot, the Gulu Sports Officer, says the Acholi sub-region does not have a single qualified football coach. He hopes that the training by FA England will help to single out problems in the sport and enhance the administrative standard of football in the region.
The one week training is co-sponsored by FA England and Christian Outreach Ministry and Education, a UK based charity organization. Participants are drawn from Amuru, Kitgum, Pader and Gulu.
