As part of its strategic plan, the Badminton Confederation Africa (BCA) has continued to invest and focus on the development and growth of Technical Officials in the continent.
“To ensure that we continue to produce good quality Technical Officials, the BCA embarked on a series of both virtual and physical Umpires Training Workshops. We invited Member Associations to nominate 2 of their National Umpires to participate in these courses, and the response was good.” said, Mr. Sahir Edoo, the BCA Secretary-General. He commissioned the BCA Umpires Workshop and Accreditation Assessment workshop yesterday in Uganda. 23, umpires from 9 countries are participating. The BCA is also for the first time covering the cost of the stay and travel of the participants at the workshop.
The Confederation has in the past conducted similar Umpire workshops and assessments in Algeria, during the African Senior Championships in 2018, 2019 All Africa Senior Championships in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, 2019 All Africa Games in Morocco, 2020 All Africa Senior Championships in Egypt, 2021 All Africa Under 19 and 15 Championships in Benin.
“We have demystified and redefined the Technical Officials pathway to ensure we increase our pool and develop our National Umpires in readiness to have more BCA accredited Umpires from all around the continent. Mr. Sahir said.
The successful implementation of the regular assessment and training of umpires has borne fruits for the BCA. In 2018, Mr. Faadil Sayed of Mauritius became a BWF umpire, bringing the total number of BWF Umpires in Africa to 7 and 3 BWF Referees. We have so far 24 BCA Accredited Umpires and a total of 10 BCA Certificated Umpires.
“It has been a long journey but, now we see the BCA strategy working especially in motivating the umpires and sustainability of the programme by having regular assessments in all BCA major events. Harriet Semugabi the only female BWF Umpire said: It is now our opportunity to train more females as Umpires, she added.
More and more females are being motivated to join the course despite the many challenges they are facing. 10 ladies from different countries are participating in this course.
” The training was an eye-opener. I have learned new rules and a lot more about time and court management. I urge all my female counterparts, especially female ex-players to join me in this noble course” Lizzy Nambuya Uganda National Umpire.
Mr. Emannuel Seokamo, Botswana National Umpire since 2006, said.
“I am happy that BCA has given me this opportunity to grow by clearly defining my pathway to BWF umpire. I am also thankful for the online courses introduced by the BCA they have opened up more training opportunities.”
“The biggest challenge for the BCA is standardizing the level of National umpiring in all its Member Associations” Mr. Satiawan Mahadoo observed. With the unique language barrier that Africa faces, we hope that the BWF will look into translating the available resources into local dialects.” The workshop is being led by the latter with the assistance of Mrs. Harriet SeMmugabi.
BWF- COACH LEVEL 1 COURSE.
12-19 OCT 2021
As per its practice before tournaments, the BCA takes the opportunity to conduct a development course in the hosting country. The BWF Coach Level 1 Course was held from the 12th to the 19th of October at the CFK Patriots badminton Club in Uganda. 8 coaches from Uganda 1 from Ethiopia and, 1 from Somalia participated in the course.
” This strategy helps us develop coaches at the grassroots level in Africa by impacting basic badminton coaching skills. Dr. Ahmed Reda, the BCA Regional Development Officer and a certified BWF level 1 Tutor, said.
The BCA aims to go to all countries and maximize their reach by giving new coaching information, assisting the coaches to come up with a sustainable coaching structure that is fun, safe, and can deliver the desired results.
” As a woman coach, we always feel inferior to our male counterparts. I am happy the BCA is giving us a chance to develop our skills. Mrs. Helen Luzika from Uganda, a participant at the course said. I have been a player for many years and I view this as an opportunity to give back to my sport and country, she added.
” I have learned new tactics and new roles of a coach. I have also known how to handle and communicate with players on and off the court, Frank Muwuluzi a former player transitioning into coaching said.
The BCA has fully implemented the coaching education program, and to date, they have trained 364 level 1 coaches and 64 level 2 coaches.
