Sports For Schools Association |10 June 2023

Children and PE instructors in a souvenir photo during one of the activities organised by the newly formed Sports For Schools Association (S4SA) (Photo: Contributed)

Providing equitable access and opportunities for kids to play

A new association has been recently set up to help children to become more active physically by giving them access and opportunities to sports in their schools, while on a health perspective lend a hand in combating childhood obesity and improve the quality of lives and health of overweight, obese and inactive children.

An initiative of former Seychelles football national team coach Gavin Jeanne, the Sports For Schools Association (S4SA) targets pupils from primary schools, precisely from the age of 12 years old and below.

Its main role is not to identify talents, but rather to support schools and communities to ensure that all kids have equitable access and opportunities to play.

The other members of the association are vice-chairman Daniel Maillet, secretary Samuel Nalletamby, treasurer Pearl Nalletamby, and member Ulric Mathiot.

Coach Jeanne explained that despite it still being in the pilot project phase, the S4SA has so far brought together eight primary schools, namely Au Cap, Plaisance, Persévérance, Bel Ombre, Mont Fleuri, Pointe Larue, Glacis and Beau Vallon.

Each school has four teams – boys and girls under 10 years old and boys and girls under 12 years old – who are engaged in football, handball and basketball.

Coach Jeanne explained it is the full responsibility of the schools’ Physical Education (PE) teachers to train their athletes, while the job of the S4SA is to host competitions.

He said, so far the outcome has been very positive, having received the maximum required participants at each event hosted so far.

Coach Jeanne added that everything has been made possible through help received from several partners, including the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, the National Sports Council (NSC), the school managements, among others.

He said their main constraint at the moment is finance, which is preventing them from bringing in more teams.

He however noted that they are trying their utmost best to gather more funds to bring all schools on board.

“No child should be left behind,” noted coach Jeanne who is inviting potential sponsors to join the cause.

Roland Duval