KNVB strengthens African ties

The Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) and the Fédération Burkinabé de Football (FBF) in the African state of Burkina Faso have signed a co-operation agreement strengthening football links between the two countries.

Meridian partnership
The agreement is one of the latest events to take place as part of the Meridian project involving UEFA and its African counterpart, CAF, under which European and African associations participate in partnership programmes.

Project creation
The signed agreement has enabled the KNVB and FBF to intensify co-operation through the creation of a project known as "Technical Assistance for Football in Burkina Faso", which aims to build better football infrastructures in the African country. The Dutch government has helped fund the project, and the Burkina Faso sports ministry is also involved in the programme.

Two-year support
Under the agreement, Dutch football advisers will give support to Burkina Faso over a two-year period, and the two countries' associations will run more than 80 basic courses for school teachers and volunteers in street projects, to prepare local coaches for the organisation of small-sided games and tournaments.
 
Talent spotting
The FBF is also to be assisted by Dutch experts with talent spotting among the under-14 age group, training programmes will be set up for Burkina Faso referees and match officials, and workshops will be staged for clubs and FBF officials.

Recent links
Unofficial co-operation between the KNVB and FBF began in April 1999 with a fact-finding mission led by the manager of the KNVB Academy, Henk van de Wetering - a UEFA Jira panel member - and two instructors, who ran a coaching course for 24 coaches at a level comparable with the UEFA B diploma. Further courses followed, and 30 FBF coaches were selected to help run regional football and find talent in Burkina Faso.

Coach education course
Fourteen of the top-level Burkina Faso coaches also attended a coach education course given by the KNVB in December 2000. The 14 now organise a variety of football development projects in the African state. In addition, eight coaches have studied regional football organisation in the Netherlands, and were asked to prepare a long-term football technical policy for Burkina Faso.

Youth tournaments
On the field, Burkina Faso's Under-19 team took part in three youth tournaments in the Netherlands this year. The team won one tournament, and finished fourth and fifth respectively in the other two, meeting teams such as AFC Ajax, Valencia CF and Ipswich Town FC.

Two friendlies
During the Netherlands tour, the team, containing many of the squad which finished third in the 2001 Under-17 World Championship in Trinidad/Tobago, also played two friendly matches against the United States and Yugoslavia, winning 2-0 and 1-0 respectively.