In September 2009 Tackle Africa coaches Robbie Wood and Alistair Lyon spent two weeks working with the EMIMA project in Dar es Salaam.

EMIMA (a Swahili acronym for Education, Sport and Physical Activity) is a non-governmental organisation based in Dar Es Salaam that aims to empower Tanzanian youths through sport. EMIMA’s  primary aim is to use sport as a tool for development and youth engagement by conducting community sport based activity programmes that raise awareness of HIV/AIDS, gender equality, sexual health and other similar issues. EMIMA runs sports projects in some of the poorest communities in Dar es Salaam.

This Tackle Africa project was a follow up to Robbie’s initial coaching visit to EMIMA in 2008. On this trip the Tackle Africa coaches trained a core group of 20 EMIMA football coaches and volunteers including two female coaches over two weeks with the first week being a general introduction to football coaching with theory and practical sessions.

In week two EMIMA coaches were trained in use of Tackle Africa’s HIV Awareness Through Football coaching manual and how to use HIV themed football drills and activities as part of structured coaching sessions. The Tackle Africa coaches also trialled several new drills for possible inclusion in the new coaching manual in 2010.

Robbie and Alistair also worked directly with young players at many of the different EMIMA football centres over two weeks and were able to observe, evaluate and feedback to EMIMA coaches regarding their delivery of coaching sessions and Tackle Africa drills aiding the confidence and development of local coaches. The Tackle Africa coaches also brought EMIMA a large amount of football kit donated by various local clubs in the Edinburgh area.

Plans are now underway for an expanded Tackle Africa project in conjunction with EMIMA in 2010.

TackleAfrica Coaches:
Gavin Atkins, Karen Atkins

Project Description:

Tamale
Date: April 2009

For this project, TackleAfrica partnered with R.A.I.N.S (Regional Advisory Information and Network Systems). RAINS works with local communities and Development Partners to improve the quality of life of women, youth and other vulnerable groups through Grassroots Institutional Capacity Building, the promotion of human rights and sustainable use and management of resources in a culturally sensitive manner. It has concentrated it efforts since its inception in the Northern parts of Ghana.

For the first three days of the project, the coaches delivered a TackleAfrica coaching course at BISCO, a local school with an 11-a-side pitch. There were 24 coaches in attendance over three days who took part in the course, which included:

• Delivery of TackleAfrica drills to local coaches by Gavin and Karen
• ‘Rules of the game’ workshop
• Session Planning and Delivery discussion
• ‘What makes a good coach’ workshop
• Delivery of TackleAfrica drills by local coaches with feedback and evaluation from Gavin and Karen.

For the remainder of the project, Gavin and Karen delivered TackleAfrica drills to over 400 children who are part of the Goal Ghana project, another partner of TackleAfrica in Ghana. GoalGhana helps young people in poor areas receive attention, develop skills and most importantly, have fun through football. The Goal Ghana project in conjunction with R.A.I.ND.S is split into three areas – Tamale, Savelugu and Bogu-naayilli. The project culminated with a Gala Tournament in which nearly 200 players participated.