USSSA Capacity Building Training: FIFA Referee Diana Murungi Among the many Studying Netball Coaching

Last updated Dec 11, 2023

One of the only six FIFA Referees in Uganda, Diana Murungi is among the 304 participants attending the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association 2023 capacity building training that kicked off on Sunday at Kibuli SS.

Murungi, the only FIFA referee badge holder from Kitara region, she didn’t attend the football class as you may think, Diana went to Netball Coaching class and she revealed to this website as to why she decided to attend the netball class though the public knows her as a football lady.

Diana Murungi in the Netball coaching class at Kibuli SS (photo credit Kayiira Jackson)

“I have been coaching netball but not qualified, so I chosen to come and get the basic skills, knowledge and skills.” She told this website before adding.

“The reason why I chose Netball is because I played it from childhood, so I love the sport and I want to understand it well and it’s rules.”

For starters, Murungi got the FIFA referee badge in 2019.

In this year’s edition, the association presented seven disciplines which includes; football and refereeing, Netball and umpiring, handball and refereeing, Athletics and refereeing, volleyball and umpiring, media training and the new discipline which is First Aid and Injuries.

Students in football refereeing class, theory session

According to the USSSA vice president and the chairperson of the capacity building organizing committee in Kampala, Harriet Apolot revealed to this website that as of today (Monday), they have 304 participants and by the closure of the Monday business, the number will be at 350.

Emmanuel Kasakya, the Director Sports and competitions in USSSA, told this website why they have included first aid and injuries.

“We have introduced first aid and injuries because we found out that players get injuries but almost all at the technical bench can’t do anything like giving first aid, so we saw this as opportunity that as these students, games teachers and coaches taking career in these sports disciplines, they need to get know in first aid and injuries. This medical knowledge can help to reduce long term injuries that come due to delay in attending to these players.” He explained.

The training that has started on 10th , it will run until 17th December.

Also training is taking part in Mbarara at Ntale High and Lira at Lira Town College. These two centres are for football coaching and refereeing.