Benguela: Angolan Minister of Youth and Sports Rui Falco on Tuesday reiterated in Benguela the commitment to meeting the targets set out in the National Sports Development Plan (Planadesporto), with particular emphasis on expanding sports participation nationwide. Speaking at the launch of the third edition of the Sports Instructors Training Plan, held at the National Museum of Archaeology of Benguela (MNAB), Rui Falco highlighted the five strategic pillars of Planadesporto: community sports, school sports, high-performance sport, infrastructure, and sports medicine.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the minister emphasized the importance of creating employment opportunities through sport, noting that the Sports Instructors Training Plan is nearing the milestone of 800 trained instructors. Despite this progress, the target remains ambitious, prompting an extension of the training program across the country to equip young people to facilitate broader sports participation and enhance their professional prospects in the sector.
The training program begins with foundational subjects like anatomy and training theory, followed by specialization in various sports disciplines chosen by each participant. Rui Falco underscored the vital role that the trained youth will play in expanding sports participation nationwide, while also highlighting the need to create career development and employment opportunities for them.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports (MINJUD) is collaborating with sports federations to ensure that instructors have opportunities for continued training, specialized courses, and advancement to higher qualification levels, including coaching careers. The minister emphasized the importance of securing the future of these individuals, who initially start as volunteers but will eventually need professional development and employment opportunities.
The training process is organized into four main centers covering different regions of the country, with Benguela hosting participants from provinces such as Huambo and Cuanza-Sul. Rui Falco announced plans for future training sessions to be held on a rotating basis across other provinces to progressively expand the program's reach.
Further promoting employment opportunities, the minister described sports as a significant source of jobs, citing the demand for professionals like coaches, physiotherapists, sports medicine doctors, and specialists in various areas of physical activity. He also mentioned the 'Family Run' program, held on the last Saturday of each month, urging municipal administrations to promote regular physical activities to enhance public health and quality of life.
Addressing combat sports training, the minister clarified the distinction between being a graded practitioner and the professional qualifications required to become an instructor or coach. He explained that achieving a black belt represents a certain level of proficiency, but additional qualifications are necessary for coaching roles. The Ministry of Youth and Sports is collaborating with combat sports federations to identify highly graded practitioners and guide them into instructor training programs.
