The long-awaited launch of the adidas Exchange Programme in Ghana took place October 27-29. In three days of workshops, thirteen streetfootballworld network members from all over West Africa came together to brush up on the newest football training methods and improve their own skills in organisational development.
The participants also took a large step towards ensuring future cooperation with the founding of a new West African network.
In addition to the two host organisations, Association for the Care and Rehabilitation of Offenders (ACRO) and Play Soccer Ghana, eleven other streetfootballworld network members hailing from nine different West African countries took part in the event: Coaching for Hope - Skillshare International (Burkina Faso), Delta Cultura (Cape Verde), ELENA NGO (Cameroon), United Action for Children (Cameroon), Africaid - WhizzKids United (Ghana), Christian Home in Liberating Destitute (Liberia), AMPJF (Mali), Search&Groom Youth Development Center (Nigeria), Diambars (Senegal), Youth in Action (Sierra Leone) and Single Leg Amputee Sport Club (Sierra Leone).
Fundraising and football training
Coerver Coaching has long been renowned for its innovative football training methods and is a close partner of adidas. At the workshop, Brad Douglas, Technical Director at Coerver Coaching, imparted the newest and most advanced training techniques to the attending coaches.
The aim of the workshop was, to use modern coaching methods to enhance the athletic training capabilities of streetfootballworld network members and thereby make their programmes more attractive to their target groups.
The organisational development workshops were led by Charlotte Obidairo, a seasoned business development expert, and were geared towards dealing with future funding opportunities for streetfootballworld network members.
Participants were able to obtain practical knowledge and connect with one another on a personal level.
"For me, this workshop is both useful and exciting. We work in small groups and learn theories that we now have the opportunity to implement in our own organisations," said N'Draman Roma De Sekou Traore of streetfootballworld network member Skillshare International – Coaching for Hope.
A milestone for the West African network
"The adidas Exchange Programme will help all participating organisations with mobilising new resources, and with the establishment of a common network we have simultaneously laid the foundation for successful co-operation in the region," said Panagiotis Manologlou, streetfootballworld Know-How Manager.
The participating streetfootballworld network members were also impressed by the outstanding success of the exchange programme. All agreed that the agreement on a plan of action to establish the West African network is a significant milestone in the promotion of cooperative Development through Football.
Sustainability
The workshop attracted delegates from each organisation as well as politicians, journalists, and former professional footballers such as Anthony Baffoe. The former Ghanaian international highlighted the lasting effects of the forum, saying, "This programme will be over in three days, but the work will continue long after. It is important that both the participating organisations and the relevant sport and political authorities take the necessary steps to build upon the results and commitments of this exchange."
Written by Daniel Wöger
Translated by Jordan Krechmer
