Next Generation Coach (NGC)

 Grassroots Soccer Coaches.

Next Generation Coach (NGC) is a program by Wilsen Initiative (Wi) under soccer for change that seeks to mentor the grassroots community coaches acquire vital skills that will improve their livelihood and inspire the players in the right direction. Some of the vital skills for personal growth are; personal branding, work ethics, technical skills, ICT literacy, leadership, business skills etc.

The Question We Seek to Answer

How much resources have been invested in grassroots coaches to become better tactically on the field and great role models off the field?

Background

Soccer is one of the followed games globally and connects all races, creed and cultures. In Africa it's evident that the majority of the soccer stars emerge from humble background where the game is played in any open spaces with anything they can make a ball.

There are many untold stories of the grassroots soccer, especially with a special attention given to who, what and how it is all organized. Majority of star soccer players in Kenya come from underserved communities where many struggles to make it to different ranks of the game whilst many are left frustrated not knowing what to do.

Grass Roots Soccer Economy

There are unclear pathways on how players and grassroot coaches can make soccer a career in Kenya. Notably, there are some interventions that help the players either access soccer materials, equipment, soccer clinics, tournament etc. On the flip side there is little attention given to the dedicated coach's life (off the pitch) not only in receiving technical and tactical training of the game but more importantly earning a decent living through what they do.

The Challenge

Resources like soccer shoes, balls and uniforms are the bare minimum a team requires, but most of the teams at the grassroots struggle to get the necessary networks or even mobilize for the funds to purchase the materials and equipment. On our side, it has been a big challenge to conduct the annual soccer tournament in a sequential manner due to lack of funds.

We don’t have the required resources to live our full desire of helping grassroots clubs and players acquire the right gears from soccer shoes (boots), balls, uniforms etc. We solely rely on well-wisher’s support to make it happen for the teams; we believe with the right support we can reach all the teams before 2030.

 

The majority of teams, especially from the informal settlement lack the necessary resources and support to make the soccer journey of a young star painless. 

Below are some of the main highlights; 

• Lack of transport to and from tournaments. 
• No uniform for the team and if they have, it’s either one set and worn out. 
• Quite a number play barefoot on gravel and bumpy fields prone to injuries. In case of injury, lack of necessary medical attention and lack of basic first aid.
• The majority of the coaches lack the necessary on and off the pitch technical and soft skills. 
• Lack of dedicated space for kids to play. 
• Lack of enough exposure to play locally, regionally and internationally. 
• Lack of planned and timed transition from one age group to the next one and still maintain high standards and interest to play even at the professional levels.

"My mission is to assist young soccer stars in the urban informal settlements in Mathare play soccer in a more dignified way. Acquiring the right resources will protect them from unnecessary injuries while at the same time boost their self-esteem and aspirations to grow their talents into the next levels through structured exposures outside their neighborhoods." Wilson Masaka - Volunteer Resource Mobilizer Mathare North Rangers F.C / Community grassroots soccer.

Our target is to at least reach 35 young stars and 5 teams with soccer boots, uniforms and balls per year. On the other hand, organize one exposure visit outside the neighborhood and offer one master class on life skill per month.

Our Proposed Solutions

We want to assist the neglected coaches acquire valuable life skill and general knowledge on how they can lead a more responsible life beyond soccer that can also help them build a career in soccer and in other areas. They can receive the tactical training from other institutions like the Federation of Kenyan Football but our main agenda is to help them lead a responsible, decent life outside soccer because they influence a big number of our future players.

Areas of concern;

1.    Unwarranted behavior of some coaches that shouldn't be accepted in handling children for example shouting to the kids in a rude manner while offering trainings.

2.    Lack of resources by both the coaches and player to give the best experiences.

3.    Lack of opportunities for their personal growth beyond the soccer pitch.

We have been organizing tournaments and mobilizing resource (balls, soccer shoes and uniforms) for the teams and generally the players, but we feel the coaches are left out in the process of appreciating their efforts and personal growth as one of the main actors of inspiring positive attitude and behavior amongst the children and youth.

No incentive for the coaches at the grassroots is a vicious cycle in many spaces where soccer is played in the community. In most cases the coaches would be the founder, mobilizer and team manager of the team, they ended up not getting the deserving rewards. I love the dedication and passion of the grassroots coaches for what they do without seeking for rewards or payment because they believe in their effort to nurture the next big star. 

All said and done, the coaches need to understand how to develop sustainable value for themselves and others or else they will always feel unappreciated, neglected and eventually live in poverty.  We have noticed a number of young soccer coaches running community soccer initiative almost dedicating their entire life coaching the players, but if you follow through on how they live you will find many are either jobless and without any soccer coaching credentials that would earn them a living in the professional coaching world etc.

A coach is an influential actor in the behavior of our future players.

The coach should have a good mastery of different skills set to help nurture the youth and children from underserved communities and other backgrounds. Key among the level of personal mastery should be in leading self, leading others and leading their initiative

What we intend to offer: -

·         Train the coaches on a variety of skills from technology, resource mobilization, personal branding, first aid, starting business, leadership, contracts etc. Mostly off the pitch skills.

·         Provide the coaches with the necessary resources they need as coaches from whistle, soccer tactic boards etc.

Who can support this idea;

We have a good network of coaches and organizations that can support the idea in different ways, but we looking for individuals and institutions that can offer support to help in operation, conduct workshops and purchase of equipment etc.

Ongoing activity through the year and areas of possible collaboration; -

·         Soccer shoes (boots) campaign for children U10, U12 and U15.

·         Life-skill training for coaches and players. - Soccer resource mobilization from balls, shoes, uniforms, etc. for soccer clubs in Mathare North.

·         Organizing and sponsoring U10 and U12 tournaments during school holiday 

Our bigger vision come 2030 -Beyond Soccer Resource Centre

Our bigger vision is to have a resource centre in the neighborhood where the children and youth will have space to learn, access to a library and the digital training hub where they will learn how to code, design etc. By the way it doesn’t have to wait until 2030, our only hindrance is the funds to support the idea fully from set-up towards sustainability levels.

Call for Support!
Here is a list you can choose from;

·         Sponsor tournament.

·         Donate uniforms. 

·         Donate soccer balls and soccer cons.

·         Training bibs. Training hours. 

·         Facilitate outdoor trip for the team (exposure visits and friendly matches). 

·         Resource Mobilization (Time and expertise) 

·         Soccer shoes and tracksuit.

·         Sponsor monthly master class session.

Get InTouch with wilson.masaka@gmail.com