England's Meridian aid to Botswana

The English Football Association (FA) has held a football development workshop in Botswana in an example of the relationship between Europe and Africa as part of the UEFA-CAF Meridian Project.

“Growing the Game”
The workshop, entitled 'Growing the Game', was attended by 30 football administrators from throughout Botswana, with the objective being to teach them about football, development and human resources. The former Tottenham Hotspur FC and England defender Gary Mabbutt, now an FA goodwill ambassador, was also present alsong with other FA officials.

European assistance
Europe and Africa’s football families have joined together under the Meridian Project, a co-operation programme launched several years ago by UEFA and its sister continental football confederation in Africa, the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF). Under the programme, European associations have been providing technical, administrative and sporting assistance to specific African national associations, with a view to helping develop the game throughout the African continent.

Close contacts
The FA has been nurturing close contacts with Botswana’s football authorities for the past three years. A previous workshop in November 2001 centered on strategic planning in the areas of finance, refereeing, competitions, and PR and marketing. Other English assistance to Botswana has included donations of kit and equipment, co-funding of a team bus, places on refereeing, administration and coaching courses held in England, a training camp in England for the Botswana Under-20 team, study visits to England for senior Bostwanan football executives and referee instruction courses.

Goodwill activity
Mabbutt and Kim Fisher, workshop organiser from the FA’s international relations team, also took time for some goodwill activity during their visit to Botswana. They visited the Ramotswa School for the Deaf and the former defender also ran a coaching clinic for 160 children at the National Stadium in Gabarone, in support of the Botswana Football Association’s grassroots development programme.

Children’s joy
“I am delighted to have had the opportunity to visit Botswana for the first time,” Mabbutt said. “I have been very touched by the warm welcome I have received from all at the Botswana FA, the British High Commission and at the workshop. I have enjoyed participating in the coaching session and particularly seeing the joy on the children’s faces at the school for the deaf and the orphanage when we handed them gifts,” he added. “I am impressed by the abilities of the children and by the very encouraging ideas on development, discussed with BFA senior executives.”

Respect for England
Fisher said: “It is great to hear from the President of the Botswana FA, David Fani, and FIFA executive member Ismail Bhamjee that England and the FA are well respected in Africa for their efforts in Meridian partner countries and for their co-operation with CAF. Continuity is the key, and we hope that our relationship with the BFA and that our co-operation agreement with CAF will be sustained, or even expanded in years to come.”