Thinley Namgay 

Twenty-eight school sports instructors and eight coaches from the Bhutan Football Federation (BFF) completed the three-day FIFA Football for Schools’ (F4S) Capacity-Building Programme on June 2  in Thimphu.   

This programme enables sports instructors to develop football knowledge through various means such as e-learning, and F4S mobile applications. Hereafter, trainers will facilitate students learn more about football and understand its benefit to the country, individuals, and social change.    

The F4S programme will incorporate football activities into the education system, and make football accessible to all children through collaboration with relevant stakeholders.  

To contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals  and other priorities, the programme has been designed to promote targeted life skills and competencies through football. 

FIFA, BFF, the Department of Education Programmes (DEP) conducted the programme. Three FIFA representatives facilitated. 

Today, various districts are the primary sources of players for the BFF’s academies. The current activity is expected to produce even more quality players for the academies which later could help form competent national squads and clubs.   

One of the challenges in schools today is the lack of training facilities and trained staff to learn comprehensively about football.  The F4S programme will address this issue. 

Yeshey Dorji, the head of the BBF’s grassroots football division said, “This programme will bring together key stakeholders, government officials, educators, and football enthusiasts, all committed to fostering youth development through the beautiful game of football.”

“All the children will have an opportunity to play football regardless of age and gender,” he added.  

Tashi Namgyal, the Director of the DEP  said the programme is timely considering that children at this early stage are naturally curious to learn.  

“The F4S programme is unique. It integrates football with education, creating an engaging and stimulating learning experience for children,” he said.