World footballing body FIFA, in collaboration with the Beninese Football Association (FEBEFOOT) the Benin Ministry of Sport, have launched a project to promote youth involvement in sport in the country.
The pilot project which takes place in Grand Popo from July 23 – 30, features a separate boys and girls football competition for Under-16 teams for schools in the region.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino had in a February visit to the country underlined the benefit of the school football in the country.
FIFA’s Chief of Member Associations, Kenny Jean-Marie, also emphasized FIFA’s commitment to developing a truly global game.
Jean-Marie said as quoted by AP, “[t]o us, Benin is as important as the United States; you need to know that. Every member association is important, every country is important, all young people are important. Since FIFA’s vision is to make football truly global, we need to be everywhere.”
“Beyond that, in Africa we sometimes have a problem in that the networks of club associations are not focused on what you might call “grassroots,” or amateur, football, mass-participation. So initiatives like this one, with the support of the Benin government and of President (of Benin) (Patrice) Talon, are important initiatives, because they allow us to reach young people while they are still in school, and together with the schools we can organize small championships that might allow us, one day, to discover future talents who will be part of national teams in a more elite football setting.”
The competition trails the signing of an agreement with FIFA in 2020, that showed the important relationship between football, development and society.
“My goal is to be a FIFA referee and be recognized all over the world,” said Salifou Awali, who is training as an umpire.
