Football Association of Malawi (Fam) has partnered National Aids Commission (Nac) in training football coaches under Unaids Protect the Goal Campaign.
The campaign seeks to use the world’s most popular sport to fight the epidemic.
Fam general secretary, Suzgo Nyirenda, said Nac had invested K19 million in the project, and the bulk of that money would go towards the training of coaches that would be the carriers of HIV prevention messages to players and other stakeholders in the game.
Fifty-six coaches are currently undergoing a five-day Unaids Protect the Goal High Cluster coaching course at Mpira Village in Blantyre.
Fam technical director, John Kaputa, is facilitating the course that has pooled coaches from eight districts.
Nyirenda said the coaches have a crucial role to play in the fight against HIV.
“Since we started the project three years ago, a lot of young people have been tested and counseled. Stakeholders now realise that football is a powerful force in the fight against HIV,” he said.
“When Nac came in to assist the campaign, we tried to look at several platforms, including the introduction of leagues. We settled for coaches, who will serve as role models to the players and disseminate messages.”
Nyirenda added that the course was timely because it coincides with the kick-off of the Presidential Cup at the district level. The association anticipates to reach out to 5,000 youth in the districts.
Protect the Goal Campaign project coordinator, John Nyirenda, said, so far, they have trained 150 coaches in disseminating HIV/Aids information.
“Currently, we have reached out to the Southern and Central Regions only. Our plan is to expand the project to the Northern Region to reach out to more youth,” he said.
Last year, 6,000 youth were tested through the campaign’s initiatives
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