Courtesy:
The AFC.comMidnight Football lights up the darknessMonday, 04 October 2010The AFC Midnight Football programme is not just about playing futsal until midnight – it is also about changing the lives of those considered to be on the fringes of society.
AFC's eight-month long youth outreach project brings together various disparate parties – a continental football confederation, NGOs, government agencies, corporate sector, the ivory tower and many more. But they are all bonded by a common goal, to enrich the well-being of those who play.
The Social Responsibility Department (SRD) of the AFC launched Midnight Football on Saturday, October 2 in Kuala Lumpur at a residential project that has long been an area of concern for the law enforcement authorities.
Sixty-four youths under 18 years of age were carefully selected from various background and strata of the community to be the pioneers of the project.
SRD Director In Gill Ra said: “We launched this new project Midnight Football to help youth at risk get off the street and on to becoming good, socially contributing citizens who are connected to their communities and families.
“As experts in football, AFC is using the game as a stepping stone to greater good and to promote and teach exemplary living to the youth, who, just like everyone else, might have faced challenges and hardship in life.”
After the project’s launching and before the commencement of the matches, which were the first activity in the project’s overall programme, the participants were treated to a surprise when they were introduced to a familiar face they had only previously seen on TV.
The Football Association Malaysia (FAM) unveiled to the kids key defender of the Malaysian national team – goalkeeper Mohd Farizal Marlias – as if symbolising that defence against negative elements is an important part in one’s life.
The thunder, strong winds and heavy rain that came after the sixth match of that day couldn’t match the thunderstruck feeling the participants had in meeting with their 24-year-old football icon.
On match day two this Saturday (October 9), FAM will unveil another football personality as a role model for the participants.
Sharing the DreamSpurred by Midnight Football, the project might just spark such a realisation in many people that football is not just for the money, fame and entertainment but for something bigger than just ourselves.
There are people out there, stricken by crime, poverty, famine, and natural disasters, who look at football and see a ray of hope.
The key is the footballers themselves, who well know that the game is about people, for the people, and therefore, should be given back to the people.
Just like what AFC Social Responsibility Committee Chairman Dr Kwak Chung-hwan said: “I have witnessed football’s influence and impact on the lives of people from all around world.”
And Midnight Football can have the same impact, knocking on the doors of the social, moral, economic and formal powers of the people and their conscience; and open the gates to more multi-agency cooperation throughout Asia.
AFC is trying to set an example by implementing its various programmes such as Football for All, Character Building, Supporting Refugee Children, Peace Field 7, Healthy Lifestyles, 1% Campaign and the latest one, Midnight Football.
AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam’s brainchild Dream Asia, the parent project of all the above prorammes, is urging Asians and all people around the world to dream big dreams.
The bright future of our younger generation – that should be in every footballer’s dreams.
- Muhammad Yusa Yuzam
Posted by
Luca Ranocchiari -->
luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com
