Football: SFF community outreach children’s festival |21 June 2023
The young players and the organisers in a family photo (Photo: Roland Duval)
Huge turn-out for inaugural festival
Stad Popiler in Victoria on Saturday hosted the first community outreach children’s football festival, gathering kids from various primary and secondary schools on Mahé, under the patronage of the Rotary Club of Victoria Coco De Mer, in partnership with the Seychelles Football Federation.
The event ispart of the SFF’s mandate, which, other than promoting and administering local football, along with other partners is also committed in 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.
The initial aim of the festival was to target 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, with emphasis being put on those who are on the dedicated fund, from the Foyer de Nazareth, and the President’s Village.
Other than football, several working organisations were supposed to put up stalls where the children would get an insight on the different career paths available within those organisations, and perhaps develop an interest in joining them in the future.
Unfortunately, only representatives of the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) were present.
According to SFF consultant Georges Bibi, who is also a member of the Rotary Club of Victoria Coco De Mer, they are satisfied with the turn-out, even if there were some early hiccups, precisely regarding transportation.
He said some miscommunications prior to the event created some confusion, especially in regards to pick-up venues, but after rectifications, everything was sorted out.
Mr Bibi added that based on experience gathered from the inaugural festival, the organising committee wants to make it an annual event, but they will definitely need more partners onboard.
Roland Duval
