By S. Siapha Mulbah
the Liberia Football Association in partnership with the Confederation of African Football is set to launch a CAF License D Coaching Course for female inmates at the Monrovia Central Prison.
The move is part of efforts aimed at maintaining the idea to push football beyond the pitch to all sectors as a recreational tool for young people.
The program is expected to run from April 21-27, 2025 at the prison compound.
Making the disclosure early this week through the FA media platform was Vice President for Women Football, Jodie Seton who explained that the initiative is aimed to empower women in football from different backgrounds with specific interest in using the correction process of the inmates.
She said it falls under the women football reforms programs of both CAF and LFA as a means to spread coaching credentials to desired and privileged young women.
The LFA 3rd Vice president describes it as an opportunity to have female inmates experiencing a form of rehabilitation and reintegration after they should have served their terms in prison.
“This is a certified ‘D’ license course that we are going to have taught in the prison. Some of those inmates are not really guilty as we know but because of the system and procedures, they all ended there. So, we are going to be empowering them regardless of where ever they find themselves,” she said.
Madam Seton also linked the project to the women football strategic plan of Liberia which highlights capacity building as a key pillar to be used in the development of football and closing the gap on women participation in sports.
She alluded that prison centers are used for correction purposes, so the inmates will use the program to correct their wrongdoings by fully participating in the course.
“The correction center is a place to be corrected when incarcerated. We don’t expect these inmates to go there and come back the same and that is why the course will be taught there,” she maintained.
The women football administrator confirmed that CAF is administering the course the same way in other countries and extending to Liberia to show its commitment to sustainable growth of the game.
She expressed the FA gladness of having this laudable venture coming to Liberian women space committing to further engage other partners that will assist in the nearest future.
The football house believes in working with major stakeholders both locally and internationally to have impacting programs benefiting young people involved in the game of football.
