Working together

The Football Association and the South African Football Association (SAFA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote a mutual understanding of football in England and in South Africa.

The FA’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Simon Johnson, and SAFA chief executive Raymond Hack put pen to paper on the agreement, devised by Head of International Relations Jane Bateman, at Soho Square last week.

The MoU will span four years from 2007 to 2010 and will specifically support the development of football in South Africa through education and training as the country prepares to host the FIFA World Cup in 2010.

By 2010, The FA hopes to have assisted in the training of up to 100 new Tutors and to have helped a minimum of 100 individuals through coaching, refereeing and tailored training programmes in South Africa.

The MoU signals a continuation of The FA’s commitment to developing football throughout the world, and complements the initiatives already underway in The FA’s UEFA-CAF Meridian Project partner countries Botswana, Lesotho and Malawi.

Those countries have already benefited from The FA’s expertise in football coaching, administration, refereeing and women’s football.

Head of International Relations Jane Bateman said: “We were pleased to be approached by the South African FA to help to develop football in South Africa.

“Whilst most public attention focuses on preparations for the FIFA World Cup in terms of stadia construction and other infrastructure projects, SAFA is making the development of people skills a priority.

"The FA-SAFA programme addresses the broader benefits that this World Cup brings to South Africa - the opportunity to capitalise on the spotlight it has brought on football in the country and to pro-actively seek to develop new and existing referees and coaches.

"The FA's International Development Programme is well-versed in delivering training in Africa as well as in other parts of the world.

“This agreement provides an opportunity for English football to share its experience in developing the game as well as to promote football links between the two countries in the run-up to the World Cup in 2010.”