GAFFER's aim is simple. It will provide effective and sustainable solutions to the problem of limited sports facilities in rural Africa. In addition it will utilise the contact with the local communities to provide comprehensible Health Education in the face of the HIV epidemic and malaria crisis.
At present GAFFER is working primarily in the sixteen villages that surround Mount Kasigau, Kenya. Alongside the football initiative, volleyball will be promoted as this is the sport more commonly played by the female contingent. The sports are being used as a basis for promoting health awareness for this vunerable group.
And what does GAFFER do to improve football playing conditions?
Coaches the youth
GAFFER teaches local players from the adult teams to coach football. These skills are the put to the use coaching in local primary schools. There are coaching sessions most days of the week in some villages and we are looking to roll this out accross the whole area during this year.
Trains players and referees
Trained coaches pass on their knowledge to team coaches, captains and players. We have also set up training days for referees in order that our football league can be run professionaly by skilled participants.
Organises a football League
The GAFFER organised Kasigau Champions League is now about to start it's fourth season. 16 teams from villages all around the Kasigau area compete in the league. Players train very hard for this and the quality of the football is excellent. They use the GAFFER pitches to train after the youth teams have trained each day. The final has become an increasingly big event with attendance in the thousands at the KCL 3 final!
It provides special footballs to teams and schools
Footballs are a problem as the environment is tough. Acacia trees are common and boast 3" long thorns, capable of puncturing any ball. The footballs are made in Kenya by Alive & Kicking. Alive & Kicking was set up to answer the call for a football for Africa. The footballs are made of specially toughed Kenyan leather and hand stitched in a factory in Nairobi.
Even with the robust balls, punctures are still a problem due to the harsh conditions. GAFFER has set up a northern and southern hub in the villages for football repairs. Local people have been trained by professional stitchers on how to repair the balls properly and the lifetime of the ball is greatly extended. Result - more time on the pitch!
HIV/AIDS education in Schools
GAFFER trains it's coaches to be able to deliver HIV/AIDS education in schools. Because these players are looked up to in the villages they provide a good example for the youth and are often listened to a little more attentively!
Distribute team kits
Football strips are the ultimate fashion accessory for a young villager, especially if the team features in the English league. Any strips donated will be given where they are most needed, ideally a school, as a school team without some sort of strip is not cool. A school team with a Premier League strip would be the most envied team in existence.
Installs goalposts
Large, white, metal goalposts might seem a bit extravagant for a place that may have an average wage of 60p a day. But it encourages people to play because the whole outfit looks so much more professional. It makes the team proud to host competitions on their high standard pitch and these tournaments bring in trade from surrounding villages. As a kid once said "Mr Ben! It makes me want kick as David Beckham he kick!"
For further details on installing goalposts have a look at our blog
Marks out pitches and provided nets and corner flags
A proper sized pitch is necessary for realistic playing conditions. Corner flags are cheaply made and add a touch of professionalism. Nets again add to this and it's a good exercise for the younger kids to make goal nets. It gives the teachers a break too.
Who received the service?
A rural village or school is chosen that satisfies the following conditions:
- Has a large, football loving contingent
- Has a football pitch that is not very good
- Has a problem with footballs puncturing a lot
- Would greatly benefit from enhanced football facilities
What happens?
After rural area has been chosen and a high ranking member of the community gives the go ahead, Ben comes along in his little car with some big, white, metal poles and a handful of puncture-proof footballs.
The next day, Ben gets up early and rounds up some lads from the village.
They head down to the football field and start work...
- Marking a proper sized pitch
- Removing old goalposts if there are any
- Digging some big holes for the posts
- Getting the posts at each end nice and straight, and solidly concreted in place
- Allowing the concrete to dry for a few hours
- Getting the kids to make nets where possible
- Taking a handful of footballs to the pitch and waiting for the players to appear
- Training the team until the sun goes down...
- The following few days will be spent training the team and a referee, nominated by the village.
- The village footballers will then be supported as the level of sport improves.