The Namibia Football Association’s technical expert Jaqueline Shipanga joined 24 other technical leaders from around the globe to learn more about Japan’s approach to achieving excellence.
This is part of block two of FIFA’s new Technical Leadership Diploma held in Chiba, Japan between 4-9 December 2023.
Shipanga explored ‘Kaizen’, the Japanese principle of continuous improvement, during the six-day workshop which included study visits to Toyota, Sumo Training Stables, and the Japanese FA.
Participants undertaking the 18-month-long course also covered achieving excellence in the areas of talent identification and recruitment, coach education, national teams, and quality assurance.
“The biggest takeaway from my experience here in Japan is how national identity and culture can have a significant impact on football development in a country, concerning how the Japanese Football Association has pledged a 2050 long-term development plan, with youth development and coach education being the keys to the future. There is so much to learn from Japan, as it is one of only a few countries in the world that can boast an impressive record of having won the Youth and Senior Women’s World Cups.
These are all attributed to their inclusive approach, equal investment for both men and women, and their youth development structures. Our peers, such as the world-renowned Exceptional Coach Education Foundation of the Scottish Football Association, present a lot of case studies to showcase the adult teaching methodology being applied. This is what makes the FIFA Technical Leadership Diploma so exceptional, because we can share best-practices and strengthen networks and possible collaborations between member associations”, she observed.
The presentation on safeguarding and child protection is an equally important area that member associations should embrace and put up relevant structures in. Shipanga was pleased to note that the newly-elected leadership led by NFA president Robert Shimooshili is committed to capacity- building for its members and, in particular, accelerating all efforts for the NFA to sign the CAF Coaching Convention which will allow coaches to get standardised CAF licences in 2024.
“The NFA is fortunate and pleased to have a valuable resource in Jacqueline Shipanga as our technical expert, with her unmeasurable experience and exposure in broader football development, joining 24 other global technical leaders. FIFA, CAF and even we, as the Namibia Football Association, invested a lot of resources to get Shipanga to the level she pitches football at today. This kind of resource is scarce in Africa and probably around the world. Hence, Namibia, through the NFA, is grateful for what we have in Shipanga, and the value the NFA adds to continuous learning, development and training, especially in the area of technical leadership, where our technical expert does what she knows best”, stated Jochen Traut, interim general secretary.
“We were delighted to welcome Shipanga onto block two of our new Technical Leadership Diploma in Japan this week,” said Jamie Houchen, FIFA Head of Technical Leadership.
“Japan has proved to be the perfect location for block two of the diploma and the focus on achieving excellence. The unique Japanese culture and tradition, as well as the focus on long-term planning and total quality management, allowed all participants to look at what excellence looks like in a different context. Most importantly, there has been a lot of thorough planning and consideration with regards to transferring these lessons back into their associations.”
The FIFA Technical Leadership Diploma aims to become the ‘globally- recognised qualification’ for technical leaders working in the game, and prepares participants for the distinct challenges and opportunities faced by a technical leader within a member association. Five core domain areas are covered, namely technical leadership, high performance, coach education, amateur football, and management.