18 Apr 2023

Africa Must Arise Initiative (AMAI), an organisation that uses various interventions to strengthen communities by empowering the youth, has called for support in the football trials it has planned for New Era College this weekend.

AMAI and its collaborating partners have invited football scouts from Spanish La Liga, and its second and third divisions.

Speaking at a press conference in preparation for the event, Lady M Football Academy Chief Executive Officer, Ookeditse Malesu said  they were expecting the scouts to land in the country on Friday, with trials slated for Saturday and Sunday.

“We have a pool of about 500 children wishing to advance their opportunities in soccer, but most of them could not pay the required registration fee, safe for only about 75. Out of those, about 50 were assisted by our partners,” he said.

Malesu therefore called on the corporate world and individuals to come forth and pledge financial assistance for the remaining ones, something he said would help them realise the children’s dream of a chance at professional football.

The CEO said those who made it through the weekend trial would travel to Spain in July, an all-expenses paid trip for a second set of the trials, with those advancing getting full sponsorship and scholarships at academies in Spain.

He said that as a first in the country, it was their intention to get the initiative right.

Malesu said that it would also do the local football scene good to have players based at professional leagues around the world, something he said would make national teams competitive on the global stage.

For her part, AMAI Director of Communications and Outreach, Tumisang Keitseng said the initiative covered the whole country, especially Gaborone and its environs keeping  youngsters from the streets.

“These youngsters are likely to go into crime because of all the idle time they have, so we want to engage them and pick those who have talent in football to try and develop them. We also work with schools to select those who are still schooling,” she said.

She said the scouts they were  expecting over the weekend had  professional qualifications such as the UEFA Pro license.

Keitseng also appreciated some of their partners such as Bokomo, CA Sales, Unik Charitable Trust Academy and South African High Commissioner to Botswana among others, for coming forth to support the initiative in either cash or in kind.

AMAI Project Concept and Design Coordinator, Felix Mwanga said that the organisation went beyond just football, and said they were willing to take the organisation to the Pan African level as it was a platform with potential to help youth and communities make a living.

“The good thing about Botswana youth is that they have passion for making a life out of school, such as through football. It is also good that football commands about 98 per cent of global sports interest,” he said. He said that the initiative was therefore a solid investment. ENDS