21 Ghanaians made history last Friday as they became the first local prospective coaches to be awarded IRB (International Rugby Board) Level 1 Coaching certificates.

The Ghana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) Board issued the certificates after a successful completion of the Ghana Rugby Stakeholder Forum 2014 (GRSF 2014) held at the Accra Sports Stadium Media Centre.

 Mr. Herbert Mensah, President of the GRFU remarked: “This is indeed a historic moment as Ghana coaches for the first time ever qualified as both Level 1 15s and Level 1 7s coaches.”

He said the Union was resolved to learn from past mistakes in taking decisions for the rugby family in Ghana.

“The reality is that IRB (International Rugby Board) nominated trainers have been sent to Ghana in the past and it seems as though the selection of coaches to be trained were made without regards to whether they will be actively involved in training in Ghana, and without regards of the fact that training should have been done for both Level 1 15s and Level 1 7s.” he said.

Mr. Mensah added, “For the past 11 years Ghana Rugby proclaimed that there are 40 qualified coaches in Ghana. The sad truth is that Ghana does not have one qualified coach as a Level 1 training certificate does not qualify the trainee as a coach. It is only after having completed a Level 2 course that the IRB acknowledges the coach as a coach.”

The presentation of Level 1 certificates to prospective coaches in Ghana followed a training programme conducted by Mr. David Dobela from South Africa in July this year.

“When the Rugby Delegates Congress elected a new Board on 5 June we were surprised by an email forwarded to us that clearly showed that the previous President was organising an IRB coaches training course after the 5th of June without any consultation with the newly elected Board. As President I cancelled the training and that strained relationships between Ghana Rugby and the IRB,” Mr. Mensah said.

However, he noted, “after proper assessment, the GRFU Board allowed the training to be rescheduled for July under the condition that the selection of trainees are controlled to those who are really involved in coaching, that the training for Level 1 coaches include training for both Level 1 15s and 7s, and that the training of Level 1 is followed by the training of Club coaches on Level 2 in both 15s and 7s Rugby.”

Mr. George Nana Kojo Kumah VII Ladipo, the newly elected Technical Director on the GRFU Board, lauded the President of the Union for his timely intervention which ensured the training in July as the right step in seeing Ghana rugby soar to great heights in the foreseeable future.

“We only need to sit back and do the right things instead of working hard to do the wrong things right,” he said.

The prospective coaches who received their IRB Level 1 certificates for both 15s and 7s coaching are:

Abdul Samad Said - Idas Sports RFC

Abraham Ayitey - Shalom CHN Centre

Abraham Nsesunkpah - Accra Academy

Abubakar Yala Abdulrahaman - Oguaaman Ocean Warriors RFC / Kotokuraba All Stars RFC

Amevor Julius - Legon Titans RFC

Amuzuloh Kombla Abdulsalim - Cosmos Buffaloes RFC

Bamfi Emmanuel Linford - Dansoman Hurricanes RFC

Ebenezer Kojo Appiah - Mfantsipim School Cape Coast

Ebenezer Elijah Eshun - West Side Beach Academy Takoradi / West Side RFC

Emmanuel Soglo - West Africa SHS

Ernest Kofi Amewu - Abura Bombers RFC / Ghana Police

Evans Dadzie - Faith Comm. Bap. School

George Nana K. K Ladipo - Mfantadisc RFC / CentWest RFC

Gideon Dukplah - Presec SHS - Legon

James Nana Akwandoh Nunoo - Holy Child School

James Odoi Wilson -  Tema Anchors RFC, Tema SHS, Nugua SHS, Salvation Cluster of Schools

Kudzordzi Gershon Kwadzo - Ngleshie Amanfro SHS

Nathaniel Darlington Addy - Dansoman RFC

Nizar El-Aschkar - Accra Sharks RFC

Noelle Yaa Boateng - Accra High School

Stephan Pennah - Elmina Circuit Schools

The 14 coaches who attended the Level 2 training course will be certified later this year after completion of a practical six week training diary. The coaches have been asked to give this high priority and to comply latest by 30^th October 2014.