Volatile Sports Management Environment In Ethiopia: A Case Of Youth Football Projects In Ethiopia

Abstract

Several Youth Football Projects are institutionalized in various countries with the support of Federation of International Football Association for the development of football sport across the globe. In African countries, the implementation of Youth Football Projects are often ignored by the participative agencies and led to lack of very low attention, overall support and follow-up. The active participation of community, coach, administrative body, and trainees determines the development of football sport. In many countries, collaborative working and active participation of all stakeholders made the football as successful sport. It is witnessed in Ethiopia that very less initiation is given to improve the efficiency of youth football projects, particularly in the case of Benshangul-Gumuz Region. This study sheds the light on significant major challenges of youth football projects implementing in volatile sports environment in Metekl and Kamash Zones of Benishangul-Gumuze Regional State. Researchers have followed a survey research method with both qualitative and quantitative research approach. It is found in the study that the coaching manuals are not updated with the modern coaching methods; the number of competitions that were organized are much below the recommended number of games; the number of training days per a week and length of training session lacks uniformity and inconsistent for the same age groups; the factors like lack of overall support, lack of communication among stakeholders, low attention given, and knowledge of the coaches and scarcity of training materials are the major hindering aspects for the success of these youth football projects.