Blantyre girls’ football team Botswana-bound

Heaven Stars Girls Football Club of Blantyre have been invited to the inaugural Southern Africa Streetfootballworld Festival 2015 from October 5 to 10 at the South East Football for Hope Centre in Botswana.

Established in 2012 to create awareness about importance of education through targeting girls in and out of school, the team has received the invitation from Botswana organisers called the South East District Youth Empowerment Association (Sedyea).

In a statement, the team’s management said the invitation is in recognition of their efforts to use football for social change.

“We would love to come together and play football while attending a workshop. Our plan is to play some friendly games in Zimbabwe on our way to Botswana,” writes the team’s management.

In an invitation letter dated February 13 2015, Sedyea executive director Kitso Masi said the theme of the festival is “50-50” aimed at promoting equal participation and opportunities for boys and girls.”

The invited club will meet all expenses for accommodation and transport while the hosts are only covering logistics related to the activities.

“The Festival 2015 will be used to prepare organisations for future events such as the

Streetfootballworld festival that will be held in Lyon, France during the Euro2016 and the

Fifa Football for Hope Festival in 2018 in Russia,” said Masi.