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Ghana: Football Has Unifying Power - Starlets Coach
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Public Agenda (Accra)
12 October 2007
Posted to the web 12 October 2007
Frederick Asiamah
Institutions and organisations continue to avail themselves of opportunities presented by the staging of the 2008 African Cup of Nations (CAN 2008) in Ghana.
The latest organisation to join the list is the local chapter of Social Society (SOS) Children's Villages, a child welfare organisation. In collaboration with Dr. Bella Bello Bitugu, its international partner and co-recipient of the 2006 World Cup FIFA Fair Play Award, SOS Children's Villages-Ghana launched the first homemade initiative on Wednesday to promote peace and development through the medium of football.
Dubbed, "Football for Peace and Development," the campaign aims at harnessing potentials that abound in football to promote and foster unity in children within Ghana and across Africa.
SOS Children's Villages-Ghana is therefore using the CAN 2008 soccer tournament to introduce the social function of football to children and highlight the role of football as an engine for development, peace and security and to promote the rights of children and the youth.
Already, a logo designing competition has been held as part of the campaign while numerous other competitions and events like essay writing competition, short poem writing, music and gala competitions have been lined-up for children, mainly between six to ten years to take place in the weeks preceding the CAN 2008 tournament and after.
The football gala competition will see teams from SOS Children's Villages in Ghana, Cameroon, Benin, Togo, Cote D'Ivoire and Nigeria, as well as, teams from SOS- Ghana's partners like Play Soccer Ghana and Right to Play vying for honours.
The campaign would be given impetus by two former internationals of Ghana; Maestro Abedi Ayew Pele and Anthony Baffoe who are SOS FIFA Ambassadors.
Launching the campaign in Accra, Mr. Sellas Tetteh, Coach of the Black Starlets and Assistant Coach of the Black Stars stated, "Football is not just a game but a phenomenon with great power that affects the whole world.
"It can be used to promote peace and development," he added, but cautioned, "it can at the same time instigate violence if not well-controlled."
The man who recently led the Black Starlets to a fourth place at the FIFA U-17 World Championship expressed optimism about the success of the campaign and called on stakeholders to support the laudable initiative.
Explaining the rationale behind the decision to ride on the back of the CAN 2008 tournament, Mr. Kojo Mattah, National Director, SOS Children's Villages-Ghana, said "as a child care organisation football and international tournaments mean a lot to us."
He indicated that his outfit is glad to be associated with the tournament because the sport has the potential to foster peace and development in the society.
According to him, "Football has so many potentials for the society which are not fully harnessed."
To ensure the success of the campaign, Mr. Mattah has appealed for support from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the Ghana Football Association (GFA), other stakeholders in football and the media.
Meanwhile, the National Sports Council, Play Soccer Ghana and Right to Play have all pledge solidarity for the campaign.
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The second SOS FIFA Ambassador, Mr. Baffoe feels elated to be part of the campaign because "we can't live without football."
He encouraged children to combine football and their education effectively to optimize the benefits. "It's all about determination and discipline," he said.
Dr. Bitugu noted that football is conducive for the promotion of peace and development because it knows no racial barriers. He added that through football, the society can get rid of certain ailments associated with lack of exercise.
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