Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Dr Patrice Motsepe began his work visit to the Southern region on Friday.
Motsepe started the visits in Mozambique on Friday morning. He watched the final of the Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in Vilankulos.
The final was between current champions, Senegal and Egypt at the Vilankulos Beach Soccer Arena.
MOTSEPE’S SCHEDULE
On Saturday, Motsepe will be in Malawi in Lilongwe for the African Schools Football Championship COSAFA Zonal Qualifiers.
This is the second Zonal Qualifiers after the successful launch of the Zonal Phase Qualifiers with UNAF in Egypt.
HOW THE COMPETITION WORKS
Each team on the pitch will consist of eight players. Also, atches last 40 minutes, two periods of 20 minutes separated by a 10-minute break.
One of the features of the fixtures is that there are unlimited substitutions. It means coaches can keep rotating the players they have on the pitch.
The African Schools Football Championship is one of CAF’s flagship programmes to develop boys and girls football in Africa. It focuses on schools and grassroots.
41 countries, 18 000 schools and 450 000 young African youths have taken part in the first ever edition.
The final continental tournament of the 2022/23 season will be held in March 2023. It will showcase the best of football participation and management across the qualified African schools from each Caf zone. The winning boys’ team and girls’ team will be crowned as the champions of African Schools Football.
The Championship has been introduced by CAF as part of its grassroots effort. The idea is to use the lessons of football to guide growth and development and shape future leaders.
CASH PRIZES
The Motsepe Foundation donated $10m (R144.5m) for the establishment of the inaugural tournament.
CAF recently announced the prize money for the zonal competition, and it is eye-watering for the schools:
* The winner pockets US$100,000 in Lilongwe
* Runners up – US$75,000
* US$50,000 the third-place side.
