Abstract:
The function of the study was to investigate the Challenges of Gambella Male Football Clubs to
join into Ethiopian National League in Gambella Town. This research design was a descriptive
survey type of research. The participants in this research consisted of twenty-two club players
from each club that were selected voluntarily to participate, two coaches, and two general
managers of the clubs. The participants were selected voluntarily or through available and
purposive sampling methods. The major data collection instruments were questionnaires,
interviews, and an observation checklist. Two questionnaires were distributed to twenty-two club
players for each club and two club coaches to consolidate the information obtained from the
questionnaires and two semi-structured interviews were conducted with general managers of the
clubs. In analysing the data, quantitative and qualitative methods are used. All the close-ended
questions of the questionnaires were analyzed quantitatively using frequency count, percentage,
and inferential and the data obtained from semi-structured questions of interviews and
observation were analyzed qualitatively in descriptive statements. The major finding of the study
connected to the Major Challenges of Gambella Male Football Clubs to join the Ethiopian
National League indicated that a lack of standard club management and functionality, Lack of
management system, Lack of good design short and long-term plans for 45.5% by the players
and 100% by coaches, availability of appropriate rule and regulation 45.5% by the players and
100% by the coaches, Lack of stakeholders participation 29.5% by the players and 50% by the
coaches, Lack of sufficient competitions in preseason 52.3% by the players and 50% by the
coaches, Lack of budget 43.2 by the players and 100 %by the coaches, sufficient sports facilities
and training types of equipment, availability of standardized and comfortable playing fields50%
by the players and 50%by the coaches, availability of sports wears and materials 38.6% by
players and 100% by the coaches. Therefore, the Researcher recommended that all football
clubs should work to solve the Challenges to success; and future related research is important to
investigate the problem in-depth and to verify the current research work.
