Author: Bernard Okumu

Toya Samson, a primary school teacher, teaching at a primary school for pupils with special needs in Kilifi County in Kenya has the intention to use the game to grow interest to learning on his students.

According to the teacher, who is one of the beneficiaries of the FIFA program, which was launched in Kenya on Friday, in Kakamega County  will help him in bringing interest to his pupils towards schooling as they seek to go to school and play football.

“Our students have special needs since they are mentally handicapped and it is a challenge for us as their teachers to motivate them to attend school. Their interest to come to school is a major challenge and we need to have a motivating factor which will make them feel happy to flock to school where they will get an education, regardless of their incapacitation. This football training program is a good pathway for the children to come to school with the knowledge that they will have an opportunity to be taught good football,” Samson Said at an interview during the ongoing training.

The F4S mobile App recently launched in the country is meant to be used by educators to manage training sessions with their students. The app allows for the educators to refresh on their knowledge and give the students quality football education. 

“Through our instructors here, I have learnt many skills and with the Football For Schools mobile App, which has been introduced in Kenya, I will now be able to handle my pupils better and by teaching them football skills, I will be able to cultivate a football culture in them which can only be achieved at school so I will have my pupils coming to school everyday,” he remarked.

Rainbow FC and Luanda Villa have secured promotion to the FKF National Super League after both teams emerged as winners of Division One Zone A and B leagues respectively.

Rainbow FC were promoted to Division 1 this season after winning the 4th tier during the 2021/22 season.

Despite losing 1-0 to Kibra United in their last league fixture they still sealed their NSL promotion.

Kibra United’s sole goal was scored by Mohammed Anaba.

Meanwhile, Luanda Villa gain their first ever promotion to the second tier after failing on their first attempt in the 2020/21 season in their promotion playoff match against SS Assad.

Luanda Villa bagged the trophy with a 1-0 scoreline against title contenders Zoo after a first half strike in the 38th minute by Doreck Otieno.

Green Commandos finish third in Zone B.

In other Zone A matches, Nairobi United secured second place after beating Balaji EPZ, Young Bulls finish third after a 1-0 loss against Liberty.

The Promotion play-off will pit Zoo and Nairobi United which will be played on Sunday, August 6, with the winner securing the third and final promotion spot to NSL.

Morocco gained their first ever victory at a Women’s World Cup as they secured a shock 1-0 win over South Korea.

Ibtissam Jraidi scored Morocco’s first World Cup goal with a sixth-minute header as the north Africans, ranked 72nd in the world, stunned their 17th-ranked opponents.

Sixteen-year-old substitute Casey Phair fired wide for South Korea late on.

Morocco defender Nouhaila Benzina made history by becoming their first player to wear a hijab at a world cup.

“We are just so pleased our efforts have paid off. This victory is for Morocco and Arabs, it’s the fruit of our hard work,” said Jraidi.

South Korea have now lost both matches and will be eliminated if Germany avoid defeat against Colombia on Sunday.

Morocco lost 6-0 to Germany in their first match in Group H, but were much better against South Korea.

There was only one shot on target in the first half, with Jraidi scoring with a diving header following Hanane Ait Elhaj’s cross for Morocco’s first ever goal at the tournament.

South Korea, managed by Englishman Colin Bell, performed better in the second half, but could not find an equaliser.

Ji So-yun had a good chance with a central free-kick just outside the penalty area in the 82nd minute, but her effort did not clear the Morocco defensive wall.

Phair, who became the youngest player to ever play in a Fifa Women’s World Cup match when she came on in the 2-0 loss to Colombia, failed to hit the target with a late chance.

Morocco coach Reynald Pedros said: “There’s a sense of pride for us to pull this first World Cup win out of the bag.

“We didn’t change our philosophy. The Korean team is not like the German team and we got off to a blinding start.

“We were efficient in the box, that was missing against Germany.”

Captain Wendie Renard headed a late winner as France beat Brazil 2-1 in a thrilling game in Brisbane at the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup.

Eugenie le Sommer put the French ahead after 17 minutes, before Debinha pulled Brazil level in the second half.

There was end to end action as two of the pre-tournament favourites delivered a game which lived up to expectations.

But it was Renard – who had been an injury doubt – who headed in the decisive goal with seven minutes to go.

“She is the leader of the team,” France manager Herve Renard said of his captain. “If she was not able to play today then it wouldn’t be the same. We were lucky to have her today.”

Brazil would have qualified for the last 16 with victory but instead must wait until the final matchday to try to book a knockout spot.

Pia Sundhage’s side meet Jamaica in their final group match, while France take on Panama. Both games will be played on 2 August.

Over 2000 primary schools are set to benefit from the FIFA Football For Schools program beginning which was unveiled on Friday in Kakamega County.

The program, a joint initiative between FIFA and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), seeks to impact over 700 million children, both boys and girls, across the globe.

In conjuction with Football Kenya Federation the project will see distribution of balls to primary schools as well as equiping primary school coaches with requisite football training.

“This is a problem solver. Schools lack qualified personnel to handle the children as well as footballs and other training equipment. Through this program, we can give a chance to children to showcase their potential,” said Ministry of Education representative Eliud Wambua.

To kick start the programme 50 coaches drawn from 47 counties are undergoing training which began on Friday in Kakamega County.

Thereafter the educators will be deployed in their respective regions to conduct trainings to primary school players.

The programme is also backed by an App that will enhance information sharing and bridge the knowledge gap.

“The amazing thing about this program is the availability of a digital app, that can give the opportunity to teachers to teach children specific life skills,” said FIFA Football For Schools Director Fatimata Sidibé.

“Inside the app is training sessions and illustrations to help in both the football and life skill sessions. Anyone can be able to use it, a parent, teacher, etc, in their day-to-day sessions.”

In the roll-out of the program, schools participating in the program will receive footballs and training equipment, and the coach educators will go on to train primary school teachers in their region on the program, who will trickle down the knowledge gained to the primary school children.

“Youth and Women Football Development remain key in our football development agenda. Through this program, we believe that we can give kids across the country an opportunity to be handled by qualified personnel early in their football development life cycle,” said FKF CEO Barry Otieno.

Beyond the launch, schools participating in the program will receive footballs and training equipment, and the coach educators will go on to train primary school teachers in their region on the program, who will trickle down the knowledge gained to the primary school children. Furthermore, primary school teachers who are directly involved with the children shall be given priority in FKF’s coaching courses.

The initiative will in the long run give an opportunity to children to not only showcase their potential early in their football development life cycle but also ensure that they are handled by qualified personnel.