About 57 years after their mother took charge of the netball team of RMC School Uhiele (Ekpoma), the trustees of Francis and Fidelia Ibhawoh Foundation recently organised a two-day basic netball training programme for Physical Education teachers in Esanland.

The training, which was held on May 13 and 14, was organised in collaboration with CSED (Community Sports and Educational Development) Initiative at the premises of Ujoelen Grammar School, Ekpoma. The netball training is part of the “Project 2027” sport for change events that hopes to bring netball to the attention of one million Nigerian school children.

P.E. teachers from different parts of the five councils that make up Esanland attended the event. They were joined by two UNIBEN students who are residents of the IDPs Camp Uhogua. Teacher from Holy Trinity Grammar School, Sabongida Ora (Owan-West Council) also took part in the event.

In all, 26 teachers were certified by coach Edema Fuludu and Edward Fuludu, who are Netball Africa certified coaches. The two trainers made use of the training manual that was developed by Mary Waya (instructor and World Netball Ambassador) in teaching the new coaches the theoretical and practical aspects of the game.

The new coaches were taught the seven positions in netball, the roles that are attached to these seven positions, the restriction of players to certain parts of the netball court and why the netball court is divided into three equal parts. Participants were also drilled on light stretches, warm-ups before starting a game and warm-down at the end of a game. They were further taught how to mark the netball court. More importantly, they were taught the practical aspect of netball, which was displayed in a live game between two sets of coaches.

The safeguarding of students and athletes was an aspect of the training which the new coaches found to be very interesting and interactive. As they were taught that they have a duty of care to ensure that the classroom and the playground should be a safe space that should be devoid of any form of abuse (emotional, physical, sexual, and financial).

At the end of the training, participants were issued with certificates of attendance and provided with netball starter packs. The free netball starter packs consist of two netball rims, two netball balls, a pack of finger-held whistle, and two sets of netball training bibs. The equipment will be used by the teachers to introduce netball to their students in their various schools.

Speaking in an interview, President of Francis and Fidelia Ibhawoh Foundation stated that they would explore other possibilities of using sports and education to build the human capacity of the people of Esanland.

Free netball training events have been held in Edo south and central senatorial districts. Edo north is currently the only part of Edo state that is yet to hold a netball training event. It is hoped that prominent daughters, sons and residents of Edo north will collaborate with the Foundation and CSED Initiative to hold netball training in one of the major towns (Auchi, Afuze, Igarra or Iyamho).

Organisers of the event said the game of netball is a useful tool that can be used in empowering the girl-child in Edo state.