Football For Worldwide Unity (FFWU) facilitator Sascha Bauer has successfully concluded a six-day Emotional Competencies workshop at Kick4Life, equipping academy coaches and staff with valuable skills aimed at improving both player performance and personal development.
The intensive workshop followed the successful Social Competencies training held in September 2025 and formed part of an ongoing partnership focused on holistic football development in Lesotho.
Hosted at Kick4Life, the programme combined classroom learning with practical football-based activities designed to strengthen emotional and life competencies among participants.
Coaches and staff engaged in sessions covering self-reflection, focus and mindfulness, self-control, goal setting, perseverance, emotional management, motivation, creativity and responsibility.
Participants also took part in daily focus group discussions supported by video analysis, while team-building exercises and a closing football festival helped bring the lessons to life in an interactive and engaging environment.
Speaking after the workshop, Kick4Life’s Academy Manager ‘MahapiloePutsoane stressed the importance of emotional development within football coaching.
“This workshop was very important to us because it looked at other aspects of growth that should be considered by coaches and every staff member when working with and supervising participants,” said Putsoane.
“Emotional competencies are essential in helping us motivate our players and build their self-confidence so that they can perform at their best.”
Facilitator Bauer praised the commitment shown by the participants throughout the week and highlighted the growing importance of mental skills in modern football.
The initiative forms part of Kick4Life’s ongoing efforts to strengthen both the mental and emotional resilience of young footballers in Lesotho
“This time we focused on emotional competencies, often referred to as mental skills in football performance,” Bauer said.
“We looked at how to build self-confidence, stimulate motivation and passion, encourage creativity, and develop perseverance and determination. The coaches gained many practical ideas on how to integrate these competencies into their daily work with players.”
Bauer also described the experience as personally rewarding, saying he had learned a great deal about coaching and football culture in Lesotho.
Junior Women’s Coach,‘MamphotlengMahao said the workshop offered a deeper understanding of the mental side of football.
“What stood out for me most were the sessions on focus and mindfulness, perseverance, determination and goal setting,” Mahao explained.
“What I appreciated most was that the workshop was not only about football itself, but about the mental application behind performance and the emotional connection that players and coaches can build together to create a highly competitive team.”
The workshop marks another important milestone in Kick4Life’s mission to develop young footballers beyond the pitch by equipping them with emotional resilience and life skills needed to succeed both in sport and in everyday life.
Summary
- Participants also took part in daily focus group discussions supported by video analysis, while team-building exercises and a closing football festival helped bring the lessons to life in an interactive and engaging environment.
- “What I appreciated most was that the workshop was not only about football itself, but about the mental application behind performance and the emotional connection that players and coaches can build together to create a highly competitive team.
- The workshop marks another important milestone in Kick4Life’s mission to develop young footballers beyond the pitch by equipping them with emotional resilience and life skills needed to succeed both in sport and in everyday life.
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