Over 2000 primary schools nationwide will be impacted positively by the FIFA Football For Schools program beginning, today, on Friday, July 28, 2023, in Kakamega.

The program, a joint initiative between FIFA and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), seeks to impact over 700 million children, both boys and girls, across the globe.

In Kenya, Football Kenya Federation has committed to distributing balls and equipment to selected primary schools across the country. Teachers directly involved with primary school children are also set to benefit from the Federation’s Capacity Building programs.

“This is a problem solver. Schools lack qualified personnel to handle the children as well as footballs and other training equipment. Through this program, we can give a chance to children to showcase their potential,” said Ministry of Education representative Eliud Wambua.

To achieve this, 50 coach educators, a selected group of teachers drawn from all 47 counties across the country, who have an interest in primary school football, are attending the three-day football and life skills training session here in Kakamega. Afterward, the educators will be tasked by FKF with conducting select football and life skills programs in their regions.

Additionally, the federation will prioritize the educators’ participation in acquiring coaching courses, to have a basic understanding of football, hence imparting knowledge that will help nurture the young children’s football journey correctly.

Today, educators have been familiarized with the Football For Schools App, understanding how it works and its significance in the program.

“The amazing thing about this program is the availability of a digital app, that can give the opportunity to teachers to teach children specific life skills,” said FIFA Football For Schools Director Fatimata Sidibé.

“Inside the app is training sessions and illustrations to help in both the football and life skill sessions. Anyone can be able to use it, a parent, teacher, etc, in their day-to-day sessions.”

In the roll-out of the program, schools participating in the program will receive footballs and training equipment, and the coach educators will go on to train primary school teachers in their region on the program, who will trickle down the knowledge gained to the primary school children.

“Youth and Women Football Development remain key in our football development agenda. Through this program, we believe that we can give kids across the country an opportunity to be handled by qualified personnel early in their football development life cycle,” said FKF CEO Barry Otieno.

On Sunday, children, both boys and girls, from selected schools in the Western region, shall converge at the Bukhungu Stadium for the official launch of the program. The kids shall be taken through small-sided football games and life skills training.

Beyond the launch, schools participating in the program will receive footballs and training equipment, and the coach educators will go on to train primary school teachers in their region on the program, who will trickle down the knowledge gained to the primary school children. Furthermore, primary school teachers who are directly involved with the children shall be given priority in FKF’s coaching courses.

The initiative will in the long run give an opportunity to children to not only showcase their potential early in their football development life cycle but also ensure that they are handled by qualified personnel. quality coaching and life skills education, the program aims to lay a strong foundation for the future of Kenyan football.

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