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African Cup of Nations Coaching Projects January/February 2008

TackleAfrica launched its ground breaking new coaching manual during a series of coaching projects which took place across Ghana during the recent African Cup of Nations tournament.

The coaching manual consists of a series of specially designed coaching drills that not only improve football skills but also the players' understanding of how to stay safe from HIV/AIDS, how the virus works, challenging myths and stigma and where to go for support. The drills have been developed by TackleAfrica's volunteer coaches during a series of football projects across Africa and will enable other volunteers and partner organisations to carry out coaching sessions that help to teach young people in Africa about HIV/AIDS in an innovative and engaging way.

Working with over 1,000 young people and 50 local 'multipliers', the 8 TackleAfrica coaches visited a number of locations around Accra and Tamale to ensure that the impact of the project will be sustainable by enabling local staff to continue HIV/AIDS through football sessions in the future.  Tackle Africa would like to thank local partners RAINS, SOS Ghana, Children Better Way and Goal Ghana for their support in this project.

Charlie Gamble, a trustee of TackleAfrica and author of the coaching manual comments:

"We believe that the launch of the manual - particularly at a time when football was even higher on the local agenda than usual - has enabled us to deliver crucial HIV/AIDS messages to large numbers of young people in an interactive, positive and memorable way.  Most importantly, our work with local coaches and multipliers is the first step in ensuring that the positive impact of the manual can be continued long into the future"

Dr Bella Bello Bitug, Campaigner, sport for development, currently working with SOS Ghana, adds:

"Football is a great way of reaching young people in Ghana and The Cup of Nations provided us with an excellent opportunity to raise vital issues and spread messages about HIV and AIDS. We're really looking forward to working with TackleAfrica further, and using the coaching manual."

More details to follow soon

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