The National AIDS Commission has boosted the preparations of teams from eight districts taking part in this year’s Presidential Cup with training of 56 coaches as part of the Protect the Goal High HIV Cluster Project.
The coaching course which is taking place at the Mpira Village in Blantyre is training coaches whose teams are taking part in the Presidential Cup which is the main platform for the implementation of the NAC funded project.
Apart from being drilled in HIV prevention which they will be relaying to players and other coaches in their areas, the coaches will be drilled in top football coaching skills.
FAM General Secretary Suzgo Nyirenda believes this will help build strong teams to challenge for top places at National level of the Presidential Cup.
“FAM is committed in fighting the HIV and AIDS pandemic using all football platforms that we have. The Protect the Goal High HIV Cluster is aimed at rural football masses. It is important that we equip the coaches who are role models to players and their communities with HIV and AIDS messages.
“They will now become ambassadors in the implementation of the project. Apart from that, they will also be drilled in football coaching skills hence making them expert to drill teams that will be able to go far in the Competition.
“So we are killing two birds with one stone, developing top coaches and players and fighting the pandemic in the rural areas. We thank NAC, government, the United Nations and all other stakeholders who will make the project successful,” said Nyirenda.
FAM Technical Director John Kaputa is facilitating the coaching course whose participants have been drawn from Blantyre, Chiradzulu, Thyolo, Mangochi, Mulanje, Nsanje, Mwanza and Zomba.
Among the participants are renowned youth football coach Enos Chatama of Bangwe Madrid a team that has produced top players like Flames captain Limbikani Mzava and former MDC player Thango Chauma.
The Project funded by NAC to the tune K19 Million will be officially launched during one of the Presidential Cup matches on Saturday 19th March 2016 at Thyolo Community Centre ground with the Minister of Sports expected to be the Guest of Honour.
