26 August 2022 – South African Football Association (SAFA) president Dr Danny Jordaan brought the curtain down on the FIFA Football for Schools Programme as delegates were awarded certificates at the conclusion of the three-day event at the SAFA National Technical Centre in the south of Johannesburg on Friday.
The world football governing body, SAFA, the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture & Recreation and the Department of Basic Education had invited educators from across the country to attend the inaugural gathering this week.
The representatives from all the SAFA Regions were awarded their certificates by Dr Jordaan, former Barcelona and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure, Football for Schools programme director Fatimata Sow Sidibe, SAFA’s referees committee chairperson Natasha Tsichlas, and FIFA officials Alberto Giacomini, Alexandra Huete and Antonio Buenano.
“The teacher has a responsibility in the classroom, the teacher also has responsibility in the dressing room. So the dressing room is not the enemy of the classroom,” Dr Jordaan said.
Educators from SAFA’s 52 Regions including those from the School of Excellence have been receiving training from FIFA instructors on how to run schools football, one of FIFA President, Gianni Infantino’s initiative to grow the sport starting from the grassroots level.