The Federation of Uganda Football Associations started the implementation of the Talent ID Framework, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at identifying and nurturing young footballing talent across the country.
The framework is part of the broader FUFA Technical Master Plan 2023-2030 and is supported by FIFA’s Talent Development Scheme.
As a first step in implementing the framework, FUFA has commenced a 16-hour Grade 4 Scouts Qualification course at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru.
This course is designed to equip participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to identify promising young players.
The course curriculum includes a mix of classroom sessions, practical field exercises, and video analysis.
Participants will observe a demonstration match involving U14 players from Rays of Grace and analyze a video of a U15 national youth team match to gain insights into different scouting methodologies.
A total of 24 participants from all eight FUFA Regional Football Associations are taking part in the course.
The goal is to train at least one football scout in each district of Uganda, ensuring that every talented young player has a chance to be discovered and developed.
FUFA has also developed an online platform for scouts to profile and track identified talent.
Participants in the course will be trained on how to use this platform and will be granted access credentials upon completion. They will then be tasked with scouting for promising players in various FUFA-organized competitions.
The course is being facilitated by former Villa head coach Petros Koukouras, along with Ali Mwebe, the FUFA Football Development Director, and Jackson Nyima, the FUFA Education Officer.
FUFA is also working on developing a National Football Philosophy, a Player Development Curriculum, and Regional Training Centers to support the development of scouted talent.
Ali Mwebe, the FUFA Football Development Director, emphasized the importance of this initiative in preparing Uganda for future opportunities, such as the FIFA U17 World Cup.
“By identifying and developing talent at a young age, we can ensure that Uganda is well-positioned to compete at the highest level,” he said.
