Protect the Goal ambassadors unveiled
Football is the right medium to pass social change messages among the youth to eradicate HIV and Aids in the country.
UNAids country coordinator Amakobe Caroline Sande said this yesterday at the National Aids Commission (NAC) headquarters in Lilongwe during the unveiling ceremony of five ambassadors for the “Protect the Goal Project”.
“Football is so popular in Malawi and most of the young people play and follow matches. We thought this was an excellent platform to mobilise the youth for HIV prevention and reach out to out-of-school children,” said Sande.
UNAids is working in partnership with NAC and the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) is the project’s implementing partner.
Ruth Nyirongo of DD Sunshine, Victor Mpinganjira of Mighty Wanderers, Chawanangwa Kaonga of Silver Strikers, former Big Bullets player Chancy Gondwe and women football star Lukia Sanudi were unveiled as the project’s ambassadors.
“We are excited about working with these ambassadors on this campaign and utilising the mobilisation power of football,” said Sande.
The ceremony was graced by Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sports Justin Saidi, but was presided over by NAC executive director John Bisika.
FAM second vice-president Pikawo Ngalamila also attended the function.
Saidi said the project falls within the youth and sports development policies of the ministry.
“We believe the project will go a long way in addressing the HIV and Aids problem which has greatly affected the youth in the country. We embrace this project and we will give it our support,” said Bisika.
“This is a milestone in the fight against HIV. Soccer has been successfully used in disseminating messages about malaria prevention. We believe because of its power, we will be successful too in this project,” he said.
The actual launch of the project will take place at Silver Stadium tomorrow where the highlight will be a game between Big Bullets and Silver Strikers. Musician Skeffa Chimoto will also entertain patrons at the function.
