26 Nov 2023

Botswana Football Association (BFA) has launched a new programme called ‘Football For Schools’ aimed at contributing to education, development and empowerment of children.

  This is also an effort to develop football from grassroots level,

The programme commonly known as F4S started at selected primary schools of Bonatla, Sekgoma, Boseja, Botswelelo as well as Moremi and would further be extended to other schools and regions across the country.

Speaking during the launch of the programme in Maun on Saturday, BFA technical director, Tshepo Mphukuthi said F4S was a tripartite and ambitious programme between the association, ministries of Youth, Gender, Sports and Culture as well as that of Education and Skills Development run by FIFA, in collaboration with UNESCO and World Health Organization through its member associations.

The programme, he said sought to make football accessible to both boys and girls by incorporating football activities into the education system in partnership with authorities and stakeholders.

In addition, he said it was designed to promote targeted life skills and competencies and it would contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Mphukuthi said the program me was implemented in Botswana because FIFA wanted to bridge the gap between developed and under-developed countries, citing that the umbrella football body was concerned that in every World Cup games, same countries were participating only to find they had implemented the programme.

“This programme aims to catch them young, both girls and boys just like their counterparts in other countries. It aims to bring the game of football to children of all ages within a playground environment and we believe that it will foster children’s’ holistic development by introducing them to the beautiful game and eventually produce stars,” he added.

Furthermore, he appreciated that schools remained the most effective and efficient avenue in which to engage young people in sport, adding that FIFA and UNESCO were committed to ensuring that children in schools received opportunities without discrimination.

Anyone who wanted to play football, he said must know that it was possible to do it through their schools or community using facilities available in the country.

Mphukuthi said they were aware of the issue between teachers, unions and government over withdrawal of sport activities in schools.

However, the programme included online learning platform with relevant content for programme stakeholders, provision of equipment that would be distributed to targeted schools, a one-off payment to each member association to run the programme as well as free digital applications accessible via Google play and Apple play store.

The Director for Regional Education in the North West, Veronica Mochotli appreciated FIFA and BFA for such a brilliant programme, saying indeed it would activate the dreams of children. She said physical activities in schools were key for health reasons.

“This programme came at the right time and I can assure teachers that a lot of things are coming as the ministry has changed the way it has been doing things,” she added.

The programme, she said, was a milestone in the new approach as far as education and learning was concerned.

She said the ministry was transitioning from traditional approach to outcome based system which fed into the government aspiration of becoming a knowledge based economy.

Mochotli said they had changed the practice as they were now profiling learners both academically and in sports to identify their talent and capability so that they were placed in the right facilities to thrive, adding that even the certificate would be crafted differently going forward.

She said the programme would also put the region in the map as it was well known for producing heroes and heroines who represented the country in international stages.

Nhabe Regional Football Association chairperson, Jackalas Jackalas also hailed the programme as a welcome development, saying since the suspension of school sports activities, children had been idling while some resorted to social ills, but acknowledged that the programme would keep them busy.

He thanked BFA for rolling out the programme to schools and wished teachers, the community and the business community could rally behind it for its success.

“This is a brilliant opportunity for partnership and I wish all can come on board and drive the initiative for the benefit of our future leaders,” he added. BOPA