The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has rolled out plans to introduce a Pan-African inter-school football championships soon.
CAF President, Dr. Patrice Motsepe said promoting football in schools is one of the goals the confederation has set for itself over the next few years.
He said this during the signing of the protocol for a school championship between FIFA, DR Congo Football Association (FECOFA) and the government of DR Congo in Kinshasa.
The project, which is based on the organization of football tournaments in schools, will be launched in DR Congo, before being extended to the six zones of CAF to the stage of continental finals.
Inter-school competition should, through the power of football, help improve lives and instill positive values in young people. It is also about promoting health and supporting social cohesion by integrating football practice into the school curriculum.
“To make progress in Africa, we need to create partnerships that will accelerate growth and put in place structures at the youth level, with a particular focus on schools. Football is sport number one in Africa, and it can and must create opportunities in our continent that has many challenges,” Dr. Motsepe told Africa Sports News on Saturday.
The initiative, which is taking shape in DR Congo – a Central African country with 90 million inhabitants – will make it possible to provide schools with football facilities and set up young referees’ recruitment and training programs. Also, young schoolchildren without distinction of gender will be able to play football and forge links across the continent.
East Africa already has a pre-existing model that is run by the East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (EASSSA) which covers all sports.
During signing the protocol in Kinshasa, FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura recalled the need to offer better opportunities to African youth. “FIFA is committed with the African Union and CAF to improve the standards of African football, and to offer prospects to many young Africans. We are convinced that football is more than a sport, and that it also brings skills and values. School competitions are the ideal framework to take advantage of this exceptional power and allow young people across the African continent to find inspiration and gain autonomy through football.”