Football: SFF Community Outreach Children’s Festival |17 June 2023
Mr Manjengwa flanked by Mr Bibi and Dr Nalletamby
Rescheduled festival set for today at Stad Popiler
Following its postponement in April due to bad weather, the Seychelles Football Federation along with the Rotary Club of Victoria Coco De Mer, and the Ministry of Education will host the rescheduled community outreach children’s football festival today, starting at 9.30am at Stad Popiler.
The festival which will gather children from 18 primary and 10 secondary schools around the island is part of the Seychelles Football Federation’s (SFF) mandate, which, other than promoting and administering local football, along with other partners, is also committed to spreading positive values, equipping children, especially the under-privileged with fundamental social skills, allowing them to interact comfortably with each other in a friendly and conducive atmosphere.
It is in line with that spirit that the SFF, along with the Rotary Club of Victoria Coco De Mer, and other partners have initiated today’s event.
In a press conference held yesterday at the Maison Football, president of Rotary Club of Victoria Coco De Mer, Wellington Manjengwa, in the presence of SFF consultant Georges Bibi, and football ambassador for youth at the SFF, Dr Carol Nalletamby – both also members of the Rotary Club of Victoria Coco De Mer – highlighted that emphasis is being put on under-privileged children since they do not, most of the time, get the chance to take part in mainstream activities, while it is also to increase children's interest in sports and promote a healthy lifestyle.
He described the event as open for children from all the schools, while emphasis is being put on those who are on the dedicated fund, from the Foyer de Nazareth, and the President’s Village.
Other than football, Mr Manjengwa said there will be stalls set up by various working organisations, including the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency (SFRSA), the Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG), and the Seychelles Police Force, where the children will get an insight of the different career paths available within those organisations, and perhaps develop an interest in joining them in the future.
Mindful regarding child protection, through its Guardians programme, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (Fifa) provides a framework to help its 211 member associations (MAs) to prevent any risk or harm to children in football and respond appropriately, as called for in article 3 of the Fifa Statutes and in line with article 23 of the Fifa Code of Ethics.
It is worth noting that in 2019, Fifa launched a new global programme to enhance child safeguarding standards in football, setting up guiding principles and minimum requirements to ensure child protection as part of its overall vision.
The Fifa toolkit aims to support the implementation of the Fifa Forward 2.0 Development Programme which obliges its 211 member associations (MAs) to take measures to protect and safeguard children from potential abuses and to protect their wellbeing within football.
It sets minimum requirements for all Fifa members on child safeguarding, that is defined as an umbrella term encompassing the prevention of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, and neglect of children.
It also recognises child protection, as an essential part of safeguarding that refers to the action taken in response to a specific concern for a child or children who may be suffering or is/are at risk of suffering harm or abuse.
It is based on five principles, including, ensuring the best interest of each child, respecting and promoting children’s rights as per Convention on the Rights of Children, applying its principles to all children and without any discrimination, and safeguarding children, as part of everybody’s responsibility.
Compiled by Roland Duval
