17 April 2008
VIDEO: Fabio Capello in Lesotho - day two

On day two of Fabio Capello's trip to Lesotho he visits a football festival and observes an HIV test taking place.


It was an eye-opening second day in Lesotho as England Manager Fabio Capello arrived at the Kick 4 Life Festival of Football at the Maseru Club Grounds to promote the ‘Test Your Team’ campaign.

Along with Ray Clemence, Capello watched matches in a specially-arranged seven-a-side tournament for 12 local schools, which also included onsite HIV education and testing between games.

Ahead of the day’s events, Fabio and Ray spoke to representatives from ‘Test Your Team’ organisers Kick 4 Life and Sentebale, a charity founded by Prince Harry to deliver a range of initiatives for vulnerable children throughout Lesotho, before linking up with one of the participating schools to follow their progress throughout the day.

"Football must be concerned with these things and must help," said Capello, "Football is a rich sport and has an obligation to put it’s wealth at the service of the people who can help the poor and make a difference."

Pete Fleming, co-founder of Kick 4 Life, explained what the campaign's goal is: "In Lesotho there is a huge stigma attached to getting tested and the disease in general, so we bring the youth here to play football and the key element of the day is to educate the kids and to encourage them to get tested."

In addition to the football tournament, the school teams, made up of Under-14s boys and girls, took part in the learning and testing activities. Points were awarded for their participation in the HIV education sessions and went towards the sides' final placings, with The Three Lions' Manager presenting the Trophy to the winners at the end.

The most moving part of the day came when Capello and Clemence sat in as a young boy was tested for HIV. After a counselling session with the doctor, and a nervous wait, the test came back negative, but it was an emotional experience for all.

Capello said: "It was tense, it was a few very long moments in that tent waiting for the outcome of the test. Fortunately the test was negative and everyone was very relieved.

"This was a very good experience, very good for our soul because it makes you understand what hardships there are in the world."

Clemence added: "To sit in the tent and to see the doctor consulting with the boy, the first time he’s ever been tested, he doesn't really know what’s going on, it was very emotional. We were all so pleased that when the test was done it did turn out negative for him."

Kick 4 Life has been operational in Lesotho since March 2007 and has focused its efforts on implementing a pioneering series of ‘Test Your Team’ events. In a country with an HIV prevalence of 23%, work like this is highly important.

Less than 10% of males and only 11% of females actually know their HIV status and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare estimates that close to 18,000 children are HIV positive.

"The idea of this event is to link the universal power of football with HIV testing and education," added Fleming

"The 25-40 age group is about 40% infected, so people are calling it a lost generation. It’s with this generation here that we just want to educate and spread the word.

"We don’t want them to become a lost generation."

Knowing your HIV status in Lesotho is not only a springboard for staying negative but it is also a gateway for accessing free antiretroviral services. Over 50 schools have participated in the events in the Maseru, Mohale’s Hoek and Quthing districts.

Over 1,400 youths have been tested for HIV with those who were found to be positive were linked immediately with medical follow-up at HIV/AIDS care and treatment facilities.

In addition over 2,000 youths have taken part in the interactive HIV education sessions at the events.

Prominent Lesotho National Football Team players, trained in the K4L curriculum, have taken part onsite to deliver the educational activities and spread awareness of free and confidential HIV/AIDS services for children in Lesotho.

Stay logged on to TheFA.com this week for more coverage of the visit.