More than 300 African sports journalists from all the 53 African countries will be invited to attend training next year as part of a program financed by the world football governing body FIFA.

Training will be provided by the AFP Foundation, an independent, non-profit organization set up by Agence France-Presse, one of the three major global news agencies.

Reporters and photographers will gather twice in eight cities, each time for a week-long course. The courses will form part of FIFA’s “Win in Africa with Africa” project launched after South Africa was chosen to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

“I firmly believe that the 2010 FIFA World Cup represents a unique opportunity to create positive social change across Africa,” said FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, after signing an agreement with AFP Foundation Director, Robert Holloway.

“Four years ago, when FIFA announced that South Africa would host the 2010 tournament, we set out to ensure that long after the FIFA World Cup final in Johannesburg, there would be a legacy left not only for African football but also for African society in general,” said a statement issued to the press in Nairobi on Wednesday.

“We set out to achieve this with the partnership and active participation of the local population, and this program is an example of such cooperation coming to fruition,” said Blatter.

European Union commissioner for development and humanitarian aid Louis Michel has promised financial support for the project.

Source APA

Somali football press department

 

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