CSED Trains Additional 41 Netball Coaches in Cross River State

By Cornelius Ehimiaghe 

Community Sport and Educational Development (CSED) Initiative in collaboration with the Cross River State Ministry of Education, has trained additional 41 netball coaches in Cross River State.

CSED Initiative is a sport for change Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) with a mission to use Nigerian children and youth participating in sports related activities to promote literacy and their social well-being. Its primary goal is to develop well balanced future sports men and women.

The NGO also aims at using sports to empower young persons to fulfil their potentials and achieve their dream of earning a living, while representing Nigeria in international sporting competitions.

The free two-day basic netball training which was held at the Table Tennis Hall of the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar, for Physical Education (P.E.) Teachers across the state, is part of CSED Initiative pogramme tagged, “Project 2027”, which is aimed at bringing netball to the attention of one million female students in Nigeria, before the end of 2027.

Meanwhile, netball is the only sport in the world that is specifically designed for girls and women. CSED Initiative sees the game of netball as an important tool that could be used to promote the general health and well-being of the girl child, as well as empower them to blend sports with their academic pursuit.

Notably, the NGO also strongly believe in the realization that the girl-child in Nigeria should be supported and allowed to play this sport in a safe environment.

At the event, 38 participants from various secondary schools in the state, as well as three Cameroonian refugees who represented the Cameroon community that are based in Adagom 1, Adagom 3, and Ukende Camps in Ogoja Local Government Area (LGA), were trained on the game.

The training was facilitated by Edema Fuludu and Dr Grace Ataha, who were supported by an Uyo-based secondary school P.E. teacher,  Ifiok Inim.

The newly trained coaches were taught the basics of the game, netball rules, applications of the rules, how to mark a netball court, the different netball positions, as well as the roles that are attached to these positions.

In addition, they learnt warming-up sessions, passing the ball, throwing the ball, the restriction of the movement of players in certain parts of the netball court, practicing of how to throw the ball and how to score were also covered. This was then followed by a practice game between the new coaches who were divided into team blue and team purple.

Another important aspect of the training was the session on safeguarding which was presented by Dr Grace Ataha. The newly trained coaches were advised that students and athletes are entitled to take part in sports in a safe environment. 

Moreover, access to free online safeguarding training was later provided to the newly trained netball coaches.

Interestingly, Dr. Ping Osaji Nsagha of the Human Kinetic Department of University of Calabar was one of the newly trained netball coaches.

Similarly, two students of the University of Uyo, also benefitted from the training that was conducted with a manual developed by Ambassador Mary Waya, a Netball Africa certified instructor. 

At the end of the event, the trained netball coaches were provided with a free sport shirt that was donated by Lord’s Taverners (a UK based charity).

While speaking during the training, the Director of Schools from the Cross River State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Okama Amos said she was very pleased to see an NGO who has passion for carrying out development and empowerment programmes that are targeted at the female gender.

This, according to her, was one of the reasons she approved the training course for P.E. Teachers in the state.

Mrs. Amos therefore urged the participants to take advantage of the training and become reliable coaches in a sport that is being revived in Nigeria.

She added that she would work together with the Director of School Sports of the Ministry, Mr. Orlando Asuquo to monitor the use of the freely donated netball starter packs (a pair of netball rims/nets. finger held whistles, two sets of netball training bibs, and netball balls) to the representatives of the participating schools.

Similarly, the Director of Sports at the River State Sports Commission, Mr. Moses Ita also advised the participants make good use of the knowledge gained during the training, adding that their post-training actions will lead to the development of the game of netball in the state.

Mr. Ita observed that netball will soon become a medal event in the National Sports Festival. He said he was happy that a participant from the State Sports Commission was in attendance.

He equally promised to help spread the game to schools in other LGAs in the state that was not represented in the training.