MINSK, 15 February (BelTA) – Belarusian coaches should be ashamed of the current state of affairs in football in the country, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said as he heard out a report on the qualification of coaches and development of children's and youth football on 15 February, BelTA informs.
“At the beginning of our conversation I want to ask one question. Aren't you ashamed of the current state of affairs in football in the country? Probably, you should be,” Alexander Lukashenko said.
The president said that the state is doing everything for the development of this sport. This work is monitored by the head of the best bank in Belarus. This bank successfully implements various projects. “But they failed to implement one project about football. Where have you been? Roughly speaking, the bank is just monitoring your activities, helps you organize something and provides assistance,” the head of state said.
Alexander Lukashenko remarked that both the main Belarusian team and youth teams are not successful. “There is utter failure. Football is the most popular sport, and special gear is not needed to learn to play it,” the president said.
There were many legendary football players from Belarus in the past, the head of state said. “Where is all that now? Sport cannot exist without good coaches. It is essential to step up efforts to look for young talents. Where was Shcherbo [Soviet and Belarusian gymnast, multiple Olympic champion] found? In a kindergarten,” the Belarusian leader said.
The president is convinced that an experienced coach can see that a child can become a good athlete. Then such coaches should work hard to achieve something. “This is what we lack,” Alexander Lukashenko believes.
Besides, it is essential to reorganize the Belarusian Football Federation, the head of state added. “We need smart people, set up a good federation which will provide assistance and support. We also need to improve work with coaches,” he said.
The meeting was attended by Chairman of the Board of the Development Bank of Belarus, Chairman of the Belarusian Football Federation Sergei Rumas, Deputy Chairman of the Belarusian Football Federation Yuri Kurbyko, and Belarusian coaches Sergei Borovsky, Eduard Malofeyev and Lyudas Rumbutis.
The meeting continued the discussion between Alexander Lukashenko and famous Belarusian coaches which took place during the presentation of the FIFA World Cup Trophy at the Palace of Independence in Minsk. BelTA reported earlier that football specialists shared their opinions about the problems in this sport with the head of state. The president promised to pay necessary attention to this issue in the near future.
As of today, the Belarusian Football Federation trained about 500 coaches (there were 247 coaches in 2011), including 44 pro coaches. Belarusian coaches work with athletes from Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan. In 2015, the federation introduced such programs as the UEFA B License for goalkeepers and the FA Futsal UEFA B License. Plans have been made to launch two educational programs, the National C License for mass football and the National D License for PE teachers, in 2018.
Methods, forms and approaches to the organization of the educational process for coaches were revised in 2017. The time of practical training was increased, intermodular training during seminars in microgroups and interactive training were added. The educational courses became 25% longer, requirements to the qualification examinations and reexaminations were toughened. All the changes were praised by the UEFA.
One of the priorities for the Belarusian Football Federation is the development of children's sport.
The football academy for young talents was founded in Belarus a few years ago. Later it was included in a corresponding UEFA program. Branches of the academy were later opened in various regions of Belarus.
