| Italy – André: a goal of solidarity |
| Angola – The “Don Bosco Sports Project” & Inter |
Massimo Seregni, director of Inter Campus and Alberto Giacobini, a coach with Inter, having come from Milan for the purpose, with the Salesian Stefano Francesco Tollu, organised a residential training programme for youngsters coming from the “Lixeira” and “San Paolo” districts in Luanda. 80 youngsters aged between 9 and 12, 14 teacher-coaches and 2 youth-leaders from the Oratory took part in the strenuous theoretical and practical course in various areas of sport and especially football: training youngsters; the coach as teacher and educator, football and education, the role of the coach; how to run a training session.
“The course was not easy but it helped us to improve the quality of our teacher coaches,” wrote the young Salesian Stefano Francesco Tollu not hiding the cultural difficulties encountered by the youngsters during the training days. “The ability to concentrate and the attention span of our youngsters is often very low and the cultural level needs to increase a lot. Alberto the coach was very good and understanding in dealing with the boys. He adapted in a Salesian way, and starting at the level of the youngsters he tried to help them improve. The final test was merciless and out of 14 only 4 managed to pass it, but we had expected that. During the year there will be follow-up sessions to assimilate the course better.”
Overall, however, the experience was very positive. The initial difficulties of getting the children from the Lixeira and San Paolo districts to mix, due to their different social backgrounds were gradually overcome. “For us sport is a means for creating a social mix and we are happy to have seen its value and “effectiveness” confirmed again” said Francesco Tollu. In addition to the training sessions, during the days there were also other activities: theatre, meetings, film shows, and naturally the first Football Tournament as part of Inter Campus Angola.
On 19 December the “Polidesportivo Dom Bosco” in Luanda will bring the year’s activities to a close with a sports festival.
Published 04/12/2008
