The Ministry of Education officials have been concerned about the school coach who was filmed caning his junior football players who had lost three goals to nil in the first half of the game against another school.
In a video clip taking rounds on social media, David Kamanzi, the head coach of Jesjonny Primary School located in Ngandu in Mukono Municipality is seen caning the pupils, something which has irked both the Education Ministry officials and the public.
Gilbert Orikiriza, the Ministry of Education and Sports desk officer in charge of primary school games, has tasked the Mukono Municipality education officers to investigate the video and take disciplinary action against the coach in question.
In a letter forwarded to Mukono Municipality from the Ministry, it stated that; “I am being informed that one of the technical coaches of Mukono Municipality decided to beat the players during one of the friendly games where the selected team he had fronted lost to another team.
We don’t want such coaches as this kind of character portrays something very bad. We cannot promote sports through caning players in order for them to perform better…”
He added; “Kindly investigate the above and take disciplinary action if true. That is corporal punishment which was outlawed in the country a long time ago. Such coaches are not supposed to be on the bench!”
When contacted, Mukono Municipality Education Officer, Farida Nassolo also condemned the action of the coach saying they are going to summon the headteacher of Jesjonny whom they want to present the coach for a disciplinary action.
“For your information, the Ministry is also following up this matter but we are also doing the same. We just cannot tolerate such indiscipline. I want people to know that football is a game which must have a winner and a loser, it is therefore normal to either win or lose,” Nassolo said.
She added that a punitive action which is going to be deterrent awaits the suspected coach so that this can be the last of its kind amongst other games teachers and coaches.
Kyaggwe TV discovered that Jesjonny conceded three goals to nil in the first half of the friendly game against Happy Hour’s Primary School, something which prompted the coach to discipline the players so that they could have a better second half.