United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Head of National Office, Precious Nkoka, has praised the FIFA Foundation for supporting football development in Dzaleka Refugee Camp through coaching training programmes.

Nkoka made the remarks on Wednesday during a three-day refresher training organised for coaches from different football teams in Dowa District ahead of the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) D coaching examination scheduled for Friday.

The training aims to strengthen coaches’ understanding of FIFA laws and improve their coaching capacity in line with professional standards.

Nkoka said football continues to play an important role in bringing together refugees and host communities by promoting unity, peaceful coexistence, and mutual understanding.

Speaking to Yetu FM, Malawi FIFA Technical Expert John Kaputa said the FAM D examination will create opportunities for coaches to progress to CAF C training and eventually obtain a CAF C coaching license.

According to Kaputa, the qualification would allow successful coaches to train football clubs both in Malawi and across Africa.

“We are appealing to coaches to take this training seriously, as it presents many opportunities for them afterwards,” said Kaputa.

One of the participants, Dalitso Chithyola, who coaches Dowa Hammers, thanked the FIFA Foundation for the initiative, saying the training could help him advance his coaching career and work with bigger football teams in the future.

Meanwhile, Christian Babwine, Coordinator of the Dzaleka Sports Association, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to promoting different sporting activities for the development of both refugee and host communities.