Kick starting club’s Africa sport appeal

Nov 1 2008 by nick lavigueur, Hudd Sat

DON’T turn your head, that’s the message from one local football club as it bids to collect sports equipment for youngsters in Africa.

Players and their families at Westend Football Club, in Salendine Nook, are supporting a Ugandan sports ground revamp in the hope that African children can get the facilities needed to play football.

A club spokesman said: “Our container is rapidly filling up with shirts, socks, shin pads, shorts, boots, trainers, tops, etc...

“We would like every family to contribute something – don’t turn your head – get searching now and bring the stuff to the next Westend session.

“Five minutes of your time now will bring so much happiness to these youngsters in a few weeks time.”

Typically schools in Uganda have no footballs or equipment with which to play, let alone adequate pitches or playing surfaces.

Many children do not attend school and so do not have access even to the very limited sports resources they can provide.

The project, backed by Sir Bobby Charlton, seeks to redevelop a neglected sports pitch known as the Kaunda Ground in the Gulu area of Uganda to allow several local football teams somewhere to play.

Basketball and netball courts and a jogging track are also planned.

The local council has donated the existing buildings on the site and the English Football Association and English Basketball Association have donated shirts, balls, training equipment and videos.