The North-East Region Football Association (NERFA) has concluded its second CAF D Licence Coaching Diploma course, aimed at strengthening coaching standards and developing the capacity of football coaches across the region.
The four-day training brought together 34 coaches from across the North-East Region and was held from Tuesday, September 8, to Friday, September 11, 2026, at the Wusum Stadium in Makeni.
The course provided participants with theoretical and practical training in modern coaching methods in line with Confederation of African Football (CAF) standards.
Organised by NERFA through the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), the programme was designed to equip coaches with the technical knowledge and modern coaching skills needed to improve player and team development.
It also sought to promote consistency in coaching practices across the region by ensuring that coaches receive training based on a recognized professional curriculum.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, NERFA Secretary General Sheku Bilo Conteh, on behalf of the association’s Executive Committee and the SLFA, commended the participants for their commitment and discipline throughout the training.
Conteh urged the coaches to apply the knowledge and skills gained at their respective clubs and districts, describing them as important ambassadors for the growth and development of football in the North-East Region.
He reaffirmed NERFA’s commitment to organizing capacity-building programmes aimed at improving coaching and football administration across the region.
The course facilitator, John Keister, encouraged the participants to remain disciplined students of the game by continuously updating their knowledge and applying the CAF curriculum in their daily coaching activities.
Keister commended the coaches for their enthusiasm and active participation, saying their commitment was encouraging for the future development of football in the region. He also praised NERFA for creating an opportunity for coaches to enhance their professional knowledge.
Participants expressed appreciation to NERFA for organizing the course, noting that it represented an important opportunity for many of them to receive structured professional coaching training.
They said the course had broadened their understanding of modern coaching techniques, tactical preparation, player management and sports science.
The coaches pledged to apply the knowledge acquired to improve football standards in their respective clubs and communities, while calling on NERFA to continue organizing similar capacity-building programmes across the region.