Following the successful delivery of a Social Competencies workshop in September 2025, Football For Worldwide Unity facilitator Sascha Bauer returned to Kick4Life for a second intensive week of learning, this time focusing on Emotional Competencies.
The six-day onsite workshop brought together Kick4Life academy coaches and staff for an engaging programme designed to strengthen emotional and life competencies through football. Hosted by Football For Worldwide Unity, the workshop blended classroom-based theory with practical on-field exercises, offering participants valuable tools to support both personal growth and player development.
Throughout the week, participants explored a range of key themes including self-reflection, focus and mindfulness, self-control, goal setting, perseverance, self-confidence, emotional management, responsibility, motivation and creativity. Daily focus group discussions, supported by video analysis, encouraged deeper reflection and understanding, while collaborative activities such as team-building sessions and the closing football festival helped bring the concepts to life in a dynamic and interactive environment.
The workshop created a powerful platform for coaches and staff to reflect on their own development while gaining practical strategies to embed emotional competencies into their everyday coaching.
Kick4Life Academy Manager Mahapiloe Putsoane highlighted the importance of the training: “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. Emotional competencies are essential in helping us motivate our players and build their self-confidence so that they can perform at their best.”
Reflecting on the week, facilitator Sascha Bauer praised the enthusiasm and commitment shown by participants. “It has been an amazing experience returning to Kick4Life for this second workshop. This time we focused on emotional competencies, often referred to as mental skills in football performance. 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. I also learned a great deal about coaching in Lesotho and about the people here. It was a beautiful experience for everyone, and I look forward to hopefully continuing this journey together.”
Junior Women’s Coach ‘Mamphotleng Mahao also reflected on the value of the programme: “What stood out for me most were the sessions on focus and mindfulness, perseverance, determination and goal setting. 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 step in Kick4Life’s ongoing commitment to holistic player development, ensuring that young people are equipped not only with technical football skills, but also with the emotional resilience and life competencies needed to thrive both on and off the pitch.
