CAF President to inspire girls at maiden Books & Boots gala

The president of CAF is expected to interact with over a hundred girls from various schools in the first ever Books and Boots U - 14 Girls Gala on Sunday 25th November 2018.

The anticipated personal appearance and involvement of Ahmad Ahmad at the event has attracted praise and also captured the imagination of the community, educational institutions as well as the grassroots football community in Ghana.

The gala is supported by CAF through its new Women's department set up to develop and promote women's football with a special emphasis on developing the game from grassroots through education.

Among the confirmed teams are;

Gold Ladies FC, Ideal Ladies FC, Great Limo Academy, Accra Ladies Academy, Diamond Intellectual Stars and Bishop Girls FC.

Meanwhile, veteran FIFA Instructor Fran Yilton Smith has applauded the exploits of the Books & Boots Foundation ahead of the U-14 Girls tournament for the "remarkable work" it's been doing in Ghanaian communities and schools over the years.

The Bawaleshie School park near East Legon, is a popular pitch used by many retired and active footballers including Abedi Pele, Anthony Yeboah, kwame Ayew, Sammy Kufour, Stephen Appiah and Asamoah Gyan; most of whom live in and round the Bawaleshie/East Legon catchment area.

In another move expected boost the confidence of the girls, the captains of the four remaining semi-final teams at the ongoing AWCON 2018 would act as reading coaches and educators.

The captains of South Africa, Nigeria, Mali and Cameroon are expected to be present and active at the gala.

When first introduced to communities in 2008, the concept was 100% football with no educational basis and was known as Street Soccer Africa.

However, the name Books and Boots emerged following a change of direction and partnership with education advocate Active Minds Reading Club.

The concept has been embraced as the way forward to merge academic excellence, football talent and create a working relationship between schools and their surrounding communities.

Books and Boots recently gained international recognition when HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall praised the initiative following a demonstration by some pupils during their visit to Ghana.