Fourteen aspiring female coaches have started their qualification process thanks to scholarships provided by FIFA and football partners Xero.
The 14 female coaches took the first steps on their coaching pathways in late March 2024 when they joined a female-only Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) C Licence course in Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau.
Main photo: Some of the coaches on the C Licence course. Photo credit: NZ Football.
FIFA Head of Women’s Football Development, Arijana Demirovic, said FIFA’s Coach Education Scholarships were provided to empower more female coaches to gain further coaching qualifications.
“In May 2021, FIFA launched the Coach Education Scholarship Programme as part of an ongoing commitment to increase opportunities within football for female coaches,” she said.
“Through this programme, FIFA aims to create a network of coaches and ultimately increase the number of female coaches in football.”
Ford Football Fern Annalie Longo says it’s important to have opportunities for female coaches to be appropriately supported.
“By having a female-only course in what is traditionally a male-dominated space, we’re enabling participants who might not be comfortable in a course that’s mostly male.”
Xero Country Manager Bridget Snelling said supporting this initiative was an important part of Xero’s wider mission to encourage growth of the game and support the women who make it what it is.
“There’s no denying that coaches have a monumental impact on their team and the wider community,” Snelling said.
“With only 5%t of coaches being women, it’s clear more support is needed to uplift our female coaches and provide them with the resources and guidance they need to excel.”
“We [Xero] see this as a crucial area for further growth for women’s football, and we are so proud to be a part of it.”
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