{"id":169807,"date":"2025-09-26T06:37:30","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T06:37:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/169807\/"},"modified":"2025-09-26T06:37:30","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T06:37:30","slug":"caf-grassroots-drive-brings-football-to-ngaliema-schools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/169807\/","title":{"rendered":"CAF grassroots drive brings football to Ngaliema schools"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n Published:
\n Friday, 26 September 2025 \n <\/p>\n

Ngaliema, in western Kinshasa, hosted a three-day CAF grassroots festival that put football back in the hands of schoolchildren. <\/p>\n

From a site near the National Pedagogical University (UPN), pupils received brand-new kits and balls as part of a programme designed to reconnect the game with its community roots.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Boxes were opened, jerseys handed out and balls held aloft as trophies \u2013 a simple act with a clear purpose: make access to football equipment part of everyday school life.<\/p>\n

\u201cA ball is more than a game. For us, it was life,\u201d said former DR Congo international Roger Hitoto.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Legends backing the next generation<\/p>\n

The distribution was supported by former Congolese stars, including Tr\u00e9sor Lualua, who lent profile and encouragement.<\/p>\n

Hitoto said his presence was personal: \u201cWhen I was a kid in Kinshasa we played barefoot, sometimes with balls made from rags. Seeing children receive a real ball, a bag and a school kit is an emotion I can\u2019t hide.\u201d<\/p>\n

CAF officials stressed the initiative is about more than elite tournaments. It positions football as a tool for inclusion, keeping young people engaged in school and in sport.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Why the ball matters<\/p>\n

There was little ceremony and plenty of play. Children clutched their new balls and quickly turned the dusty pitch into a mini-tournament.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ball is the first teacher,\u201d Hitoto added.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt teaches solidarity, respect and the joy of sharing. What CAF is doing today is more than a distribution; it\u2019s an invitation to believe every child here can forge their own path.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a neighbourhood where daily pressures are real, the gift of equipment \u2013 and permission to play \u2013 offered a timely lift.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Kinshasa\u2019s symbolism<\/p>\n

Launching the programme in Kinshasa carried weight. The capital breathes football, from memories of the 1974 Leopards to the exploits of TP Mazembe and AS Vita Club.<\/p>\n

It is also a city eager for a fresh sporting story. \u201cKinshasa is a laboratory,\u201d Hitoto said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you reach children here, in their schools, you reach the whole country.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A morning that said it all<\/p>\n

When the speeches ended, the adults stepped back and the games began. Bags were shouldered, boxes emptied, and balls skipped across the dust.<\/p>\n

Hitoto lingered to watch. \u201cThat\u2019s where it starts,\u201d he said, eyes following a youngster dribbling with endless energy.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe in 20 years we\u2019ll talk about him as a star. Today, what matters is that he\u2019s playing.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a few hours, the festival achieved its aim: placing children at the centre and reminding everyone that African football\u2019s future begins with a ball and a safe place to kick it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Published: Friday, 26 September 2025 Ngaliema, in western Kinshasa, hosted a three-day CAF grassroots festival that put…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":169808,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[563],"tags":[64,63,596,85],"class_list":["post-169807","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-football","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-football","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/169807","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=169807"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/169807\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/169808"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=169807"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=169807"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=169807"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}