A record turnout is expected for the first football festival of the year in the Namibia Football Association’s (NFA) ‘Galz & Goals’ football initiative at Gobabis tomorrow.
The project, which scooped a prestigious international award last week, empowers girls nationwide to protect themselves against risky behaviors associated with the spread of HIV.
According to the head of the NFA’s Women’s Desk, Jackey Gertze, the ‘Galz & Goals’ festivals of last year ‘generated lots of excitement and proved a huge success for the program’ and this year’s festivals expect to see a record number of participants and spectators at the first three-day event in Gobabis. Okahandja will host the next event later this month.
Community members will have the opportunity to participate in life skills training, followed by a two day NFA coaching course conducted by Fifa-qualified instructor and Brave Gladiators coach, Jacqui Shipanga.
The final day at Legare Stadium will invite girls aged between nine and 15 to participate in an under 13 and U/15 7-a-side football tournament, which will also showcase the skills and knowledge acquired by Gobabis coaches over the previous three days. The ‘Galz and Goals’ initiative was launched in 2009 to empower Namibian adolescent girls through participation in football leagues and festivals. Sport is used as a platform to educate the girls about HIV prevention and life skills, using activities such as ‘Kicking AIDS Out’ and other various educational materials.
This year’s festivals will see the launch of the educational ‘fundbook’. The booklet provides information on HIV-AIDS and addresses issues such as gender, alcohol abuse, intergenerational sex, teenage pregnancy and of course, provides plenty of advice on football. Once girls become members of the Galz & Goals program they will receive the booklet along with a ‘Passport’ which was released to the girls in May this year, giving each member registration into the program.
‘The girls were very excited with the passports,’ said Gertze.
‘Some girls I saw in the Windhoek league carry their Passport with them to each game…That’s amazing!’
Gertze is also expecting to get a positive response from the girls on the release of the ‘fundbook’ ‘Now I just imagine what value it will provide to their everyday lives as young and vulnerable girls’, she said.
