Sierra Leone has become the 107th country to embrace FIFA’s Football for Schools (F4S) program, providing boys and girls in the nation with an opportunity to benefit from this global initiative. In the city of Makeni, fifty physical education teachers from Sierra Leone’s 16 districts participated in the inaugural event, spending two days with FIFA coaches to grasp the fundamentals of the program. Under the guidance of F4S experts, the teachers then applied their knowledge in practical sessions with 125 children on the final day.
Diego Kamara, an instructor involved in the program, highlighted the significance of football in the country, emphasizing its role in nurturing young talent to contribute to Sierra Leone’s future. “If we can excel well in football, it can be a boost to our country and represent us internationally,” he noted.
Sierra Leone’s participation in the F4S program aims to make football more accessible to young people by integrating football activities into the education system. Haja Bangura, one of the students who participated in the training, expressed her aspirations to play football, emphasizing how the sport helps them learn to move their bodies and fosters unity among friends.
George Conteh, a parent, acknowledged the crucial role of sport in the lives of young children, sharing his personal experience of finding support and community through sports during challenging times. The vice-president of Sierra Leone FA, Harold Nat-Johnson, highlighted the importance of involving schools in youth football, expressing gratitude for collaborating with FIFA and emphasizing the intention to continue this landmark initiative.
Supported by UNESCO, FIFA’s Football for Schools program contributes to the education, development, and empowerment of approximately 700 million children worldwide. The program, launched in Puerto Rico in 2019, aims to harness the universal appeal of football to positively impact young individuals’ lives globally.
