20 Centres for 2010

And Fifa has picked Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) – a local self-help youth programme that links sports with environmental cleanups, AIDS prevention, leadership training and other community service activities – to be in charge of the sporting centre of excellence.

In an email communiqué, Fifa’s Head of Corporate Social Responsibilities, Federico Addiechi, told Daily Nation sports that Kenya is among the 16 countries receiving a Football for Hope Centre as part of the official campaign of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, “20 Centres for 2010”.

“We will be working locally with the grassroot organisation MYSA, one of the implementing organisations of the Football for Hope movement. The time for beginning of the constructions in 2009 is not yet defined.” Federico wrote.

Disadvantaged areas
MYSA chairman Bob Munro confirmed that the organisation has been approached by Fifa to take charge of the project because of their experience in using football to improve social and development activities amongst the youth in disadvantaged backgrounds.

“The Fifa campaign was inspired by MYSA’s success in using football as a tool for development. MYSA officials have already held a meeting with Fifa and all the details have been finalised.

“Construction will start next year once we get hold of a piece of land that we have earmarked at the heart of Mathare Slums, ” Munro said.
Though he was unwilling to say how much the organisation has been advanced by Fifa for the project. The campaign is envisioned to build 20 centres for education, public health and football in disadvantaged African communities.

Across the continent
The project will provide local organisations with vital infrastructure to help them expand their work in the field of development through football long after the final whistle of the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa.
The objective of the campaign is to raise USD 10million. Fifa will also contribute 500 dollars for every goal scored in the Fifa World Cup qualifiers (a minimum investment of over USD 1milliom).

Each centre will have a building with rooms to provide public health services and informal education, office space, common space for community gatherings, and a small-size artificial turf pitch (40x20m).
Construction will be supervised by Fifa and streetfootballworld and implemented by Architecture for Humanity, a charitable organisation that serves communities in needs, and Greenfields, a construction company and a developer of synthetic turf systems.

Five of the centres will be in South Africa while 15 will be spread across the continent. Fifa president Sepp Blatter launched the official campaign in Durban, South Africa, last year.

This follows on the success of such campaigns associated with previous World Cups – Say Yes For Children (2002) and 6 Villages for 2006.

Source: Daily Nation