Banjul — The World football governing body, FIFA, have introduced a new training programme for its member associations called Com-Unity Course Programme.

Com-Unity is a presidential programme whose purpose is to improve awareness of the value football can have in a country. As such, the course is intended to improve cooperation and communication between a member association, its government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working within the country, other partners and the media.

The programme further distributes knowledge on communication and marketing skills to help national associations attract partners and sponsors.

The format of the course is that each Com-Unity course is a three-day programme of working sessions organised by the member associations in cooperation with FIFA and brings together key representatives from government, NGOs, the media and the national football family and is intended to be opened to the whole community.

Participants from those institutions are a critical component of this course; invitations for those individuals are to be extended by the member associations hosting the course.

On the financing of the course, FIFA will cover the expenses of the instructors and FIFA representatives, as well as the production and shipment of the course materials.

The organising member association will be responsible for all local transport costs, customs, tax expenses and any other residual expenses not covered by FIFA.

In addition, renting of course facilities and relevant installations are to be provided by the benefiting member association as well.

Whenever possible, the workshop shall be held in FIFA Goal and/or Financial Assistance Programme (FAP) financed facilities.

To apply, interested member associations are asked to complete and return an application form with information on preferred dates, a description of the actual relationship of your member association with the government and the media, common projects realized or planned as well as the marketing situation of your federation.

FIFA will review each application received and be in touch with member associations accordingly.