Community championship in Cameroon
Sport Network's first community tournament in Cameroon, opened on 15 June 2013. The final will take place on 25 August 2013 in Boulembe on the football fields constructed by Sport Network, with funds provided by AECID in cooperation with the UNHCR. The winners will get a prize of 50000 Cameroonian francs (76 Euros) and the runners-up will receive a prize of 30000 CFAs (50 Euros). In addition, prizes will be given for the best player, top scorer, best goalkeeper and best fan.
However, more importantly, the football championship provides an opportunity to disseminate key messages to both players and spectators. Sport Network use the popularity of the sporting event to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, gender based violence, first aid, school attendance and other related themes. Prior to each game, we use a participatory and interactive methodology involving both players and spectators to raise awareness about these issues.
Jean Pierre Boundar, Sport Network’s socio-cultural and physical education activity instructor and organiser of the championship, emphasises the importance of the tournament:
“On the one hand, it’s very important that Boulembé’s population makes use of the sport fields constructed by Sport Network and that they consider it their own and assume the role in the maintenance and involvement of other villages in their use.
“On the other hand, the championship is a good way to strengthen the union among neighbouring communities, create bonds of solidarity and at the same time strengthen and promote the integration of central African refugees in the Cameroonian host communities.
“We consider that sport and physical activity is the best possible way as it has the capacity to unite people and create friendships: while playing sport we forget all the things that divide us and the barriers disappear. On the field we are all equal. Sport is also a very good means of communication.”
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