Football for Hope centre opens in Cape Town

14 Dec, 2009

The international governing body of football FIFA has opened a community centre in Cape Town as part of a social development initiative that is intended to outlast the 2010 World Cup.

The so-called Football for Hope centre is located in Khayelitsha, a township in the Cape Flats. Managed by South African non-governmental organisation Grassroot Soccer, it has a turf football pitch, classrooms, health facilities and space for community events. The creators say it will be used to help a range of issues facing young people, including health, gender equality, peace building, the environment and HIV/AIDS.

The centre is the first of 20 that will be created across Africa under FIFA