CONSTRUCTION OF FIFA CENTER FOR HOPE IN PROGRESS

 
By Lisa Bogler

As the construction of the Fifa Center for Hope in Esikafoambatam is about to be finished, the refuse dam at the main entrance is the one obstacle to be removed. The responsible assembly members are now looking for land for the relocation.

The construction of the Fifa Center of Hope in Esikafoambatam started two months ago and is finished to about fifty per cent, according to the workers there. The hardest part was to level the area what took about two weeks and the construction work now will be more easy. The whole project consists of the football pitch, an office for the Ghana Football Association, an ICT department and dressing rooms including toilet and bathing facilities. The pitch itself will be made of an artificial grass carpet.

By harnessing young people’s passion for football, the project, hosted by Play Soccer, aims to attract young people to come to the center. There they have the chance to be trained in basic football skilled and are provided with study opportunities and health facilities. Hon. James Paapa Buckman, Assembly member of Esikafoambatam/ Antem electoral area, hopes for the project to have an impact on whole Cape Coast, giving unemployed people the chance for improvement. All schools in Central Region will have the opportunity to select a team to play at the new football pitch. It would also be a proper place to host the Regional Athletic Games.

However, a challenge the responsible assembly members are facing is a refuse dam located directly at the entrance. As it is out of question to have this site next to the modern Fifa project, they are now looking for a proper place to relocate the refuse to. Despite the difficulties to find land, the optimism is not disturbed and the building is continued.

Football is what could bring the community forward. Not many children attend the big schools around the area, but in the view of Hon. James Paapa Buckman, the Fifa Center of Hope offers great new opportunities and he expects a positive impact on whole Cape Coast and Central Region.

This project is one of 20 organized by Fifa all over Africa. It is part of the official campaign of the 2010 FIFA World Cup to create 20 Football for Hope Centers to promote public health, education and football in disadvantaged communities across the continent. With the support of local organizations who identify the challenges in their communities and using the positive elements of football, the projects aim to address and fight the respective social problems in the communities.