The registrar of National Institute for Sports (NIS), Mr Belmond Benson has come out with a verdict that the biggest gain from forcing coaches to get certificates is a move towards ensuring an end to child abuse.
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Sports247.ng reports that Benson stated this at the end of a ceremony in which 52 grassroots football coaches were awarded professional licences by Lagos State Football Association (LSFA).
Benson noted that the event, which was part of a joint venture between the NIS and LSFA, will further ensure that only well trained people, and those that can be adequately trusteed to properly take care of children, would henceforth be regarded as football coaches.
“We have so many of our youths who have passion for football across the nation,” Benson began, “but the issue of who to tutor them has been a big challenge.
“We don’t want a situation, as it was in the past, for people without proper training to be taking charge of our youths; especially with the kind of vices that are very common nowadays.
“So, it is good that anyone taking charge of youths should have some basic training Certificates. This will make you sure of whoever you are releasing your kids to.”
Benson slso praised LSFA president, Hajj Gafar Olawale Liameed and his fellow board members at LSFA for coming up with the idea of a collaboration with the NIS, in order to take certification and licensing of coaches to the grassroots level in Lagos State.
