'We are building a better Africa for our future' Clementine Touré
Not only is the CAF African Schools Football Championship Ghana 2025 a unique and exciting platform for young African football talent, but the unique approach taken by CAF has future-proofed African football like never before.
These were the sentiments shared by Ivorian legend, Clementine Touré sharing her views of the tournament when speaking to CAFOnline on the sidelines of the tournament's draw held in Accra on Monday afternoon.
Touré is amongst seven African football greats who have graced the four-day tournament set to take place in Accra between 23 – 26 April, where champions in both the Boys and Girls U-15 divisions will be crowned.
Speaking to CAFOnline on Monday, Toure lauded the tournament's unique ability of exposing African talent to international football, making special but mention of CAF's intended efforts of safeguarding African talent through the various programmes that are currently underway.
'This is not just a football competition. It is a learning institution. I believe that today, with this opportunity, we're building something solid. We're developing young people, giving them the chance to grow and protect their interests – that's what we want' said Touré.
'Before, they weren't protected. But today, through this kind of platform, these gatherings, these tournaments, we're trying to provide the best path, the best example, to honour our young African players who have come from all over Africa: North, South, West, and Central Africa. This is the Africa we want' she added.
Touré was making special reference to the CAF Safeguarding Officers Programme which is uniquely designed to ensure that young African football talent is protected from any form of abuse or harm.
The CAF Safeguarding Officers Programme primarily focuses on equipping appointed Safeguarding Officers with the necessary means and knowledge to first - identify any potential threat or harm that may come the way of young players and women. Secondly, the programme ensures that the participants are knowledgeable on the necessary steps to take in an event of such incidents.
Other programmes currently underway in Accra ahead of Wednesday's start include the Young Referees Programme, Young Reporters Programme, Young Medical Officers Programme, Safe & Security Programme, CAF D License Coaching Course as well as other unique capacity building initiatives by CAF.
CAF African Schools Football Championship is a first in world football and a bedrock to the vision of CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe of making African football globally competitive and self-sustaining.
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