FIFA’s Football for Schools brings the Caribbean together

Jun 09, 2023 Sports

Kaieteur Sports – Football’s global governing body, FIFA, held a regional seminar on their Football for Schools (F4S) programme, where Guyana was represented by officials from the Guyana Football Federation who shared the country’s success story by being the first country in CARICOM to roll-out the initiative.

The event, held in Montego Bay, Jamaica, from May 27-29, aimed at promoting the F4S programme and encouraging Caribbean nations to participate, saw the attendance of officials from 21 countries in the region, with around 90 people taking part in all.

The seminar was organized by a FIFA team led by its Football for Schools Director Fatimata Sow Sidibe, in collaboration with the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF).

The event included informative theory and practical sessions designed to encourage the nations of the Caribbean to take part in F4S.

The F4S programme aims to expand football globally and help the participants become better global citizens. The goal is to provide every child across the world with the opportunity to play football through the 211 member associations and, in doing so, help them learn and develop important life skills.

The seminar provided an excellent platform for countries already participating in F4S to share their experiences and knowledge.

Puerto Rico and Guyana presented their success stories with great enthusiasm and spoke of the challenge they faced in rolling out the programme. Their contributions were vital in encouraging other member associations to consider joining and make the most of all the benefits on offer.

The seminar included informative sessions in which experts presented the objectives, methodologies, and results of F4S.

The launch of FIFA’s football for schools in Guyana.

In addition to theory sessions, bilateral meetings were held to promote collaboration between participating countries. The purpose of such gatherings is to forge closer ties, discuss and share best practices, and explore opportunities for cooperation in the immediate future.

The debates that took place led to ideas and innovative strategies being exchanged, strengthening the bonds between the participants.

The three-day seminar came to an end with a football tournament, with delegates from across the region giving their all on the pitch, showing off their skills, and demonstrating the power of sport to bring people and communities together.

Guyana was the first to launch the FIFA Football for Schools initiative in the Concacaf region, where FIFA experts trained 45 teachers from across Land of Many Waters at the GFF National Training Centre.

• Caribbean, Fatimata Sow Sidibe, FIFA, Guyana Football Federation, Schools Director