Boane: A breath of fresh air

By Robert Mutsauki
THE Anoca delegation last Thursday took a break from numerous meetings and tours of sports facilities and venues for this year’s All-Africa Games in Maputo to visit the famed Boane Olympafrica centre situated 40km outside the Mozambican capital.
Leading this special tour was the country’s National Olympic Committee president Marcelino Macome.
The centre, which was founded in the year 2000 by the Mozambique National Olympic Committee and, just like other centres spread across the African continent, promotes the concept and philosophy of Olympism in its various forms, including the teaching of Olympic values.
In practical terms, however, the centre is catering for the disadvantaged community of Boane with the youths benefiting from training and education programmes which keep them occupied and minimising the temptation to indulge in risky or delinquent behaviour as a way of passing time.
And also on a positive note, the centre inspires and opens new doors for youngsters who would otherwise be overpowered by an overwhelming sense of hopelessness and despair which is quite common in disadvantaged communities as they struggle to break the cycle of poverty and the resultant proliferation of social ills threatening the fabric of the same community.
The adult members of the community are also given the opportunity to engage in what can be described as poverty alleviation economic activities organised by the centre so that parents can legitimately earn modest regular income enabling them to take good care of their impoverished families instead of depending entirely and perpetually on handouts.
Members of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (Anoca) delegation witnessed training sessions for athletics, basketball, soccer and volleyball where skills were being imparted to both boys and girls in the age range 12 to 15.
This is part of the centre’s sport for all programme which caters for boys and girls between the ages of 7 and 15.
Basic and practical facilities are in place for these four disciplines selected for their popularity and cost effectiveness.
There is also appropriate sports equipment available at the centre courtesy of various partners of the centre.
The centre is, however, unable to lure properly qualified and experienced coaches from the bright lights of Maputo to coach youths at complex and this is a pity because, who knows, this community could very well give Mozambique the next Eusebio or Maria Mutola because the kids at the centre seem to be hungry for success as they have learnt that this will ensure that they and their families do not continue to wonder where their next meal will come from.
A Grade One school class was in session during the visit and it was explained that a nearby school had run out of classroom space and requested the centre to provide a room to accommodate the increased enrollment.
The general attendance rate at schools in this particular community is said to be low and a cause for concern because of inability to pay fees and buy uniforms by parents.
Consequently the centre has sourced and on this particular day donated school books, materials and uniforms to benefit 1 400 disadvantaged school children from four different schools around the centre.
The centre also has a well stocked and popular reference library where children can walk in everyday to read books on various school subjects under supervision, giving satisfaction to the inquisitive young minds which would otherwise run the risk of preoccupying themselves with less rewarding endeavours.
The economic project at the centre involves the manufacturing of school uniforms and sports uniforms for sale to schools in the Boane district.
The centre which partnered a private company with appropriate expertise also secured an agreement with the Ministry of Education to sell the uniforms to schools in the district and well in excess of 5 000 school children are being catered for in terms of having affordable school and sports uniforms at their disposal.
Some members of the Boane community are fortunate enough to be formally employed by this project; getting not only regular income but a much valued elevated status in the community and at a personal level, boosted self-esteem and human dignity.
At the time of the Anoca delegation tour, the centre had large quantities of uniform material on its inventory; a good sign of forward planning and management.
Another impressive initiative at the centre is the sport and environment project which has helped to create awareness among the youth and the community in general on the need to conserve the environment.
The youths learn to plant and nurture trees and other vegetation at the centre as well as to keep their surroundings clean and tidy.
This community is plagued by water shortages and the centre from time to time comes to the community’s rescue.
The cutting down of trees for firewood to use or sell is quite rampant in the area and hence the need to get the community to replace the trees being displaced.
The Anoca president, General Lassana Palenfo, planted a mango fruit tree at the centre in support of this noble initiative.
Impressed by the centre’s initiatives Palenfo pledged, on behalf of Anoca, to donate a television set, dvd player and an LCD projector to the centre to support the educational programmes which seem to be having a profound impact on the targeted youth as well as the community in general.
The Anoca delegation was treated to a sumptuous lunch under the shady trees at the centre and members found it hard to believe that the meal, rivaling offerings of top restaurants in Maputo, had actually been prepared at the centre.
The centre demonstrated that it can host dignitaries well and spring one or two pleasant surprises.
Halfway through the tour, rain showers which descended on the centre, prompted the Anoca delegation’s host Macome to express concern fearing that this could be “a fly in the ointment” spoiling a well planned tour but Palenfo quickly reminded him that far from being a curse, rain on any occasion was in fact a blessing.
Indeed in African culture, the falling of rain is widely regarded as a positive signal of success for a significant event such as the visit by a high-powered delegation from Anoca.
The man who can best be described as the brains behind the Boane Centre is the 60-year-old Marcelino Macome who is the president of the Mozambique National Olympic Committee.
The down to earth and unassuming Macome has a very clear vision and displays a fierce passion when he responds to a question on the impact of the centre on the community of Boane.
“The centre is transforming the community and the benefits are there for all to see; for example I am proud that two youngsters who passed through the centre have been able to get a university education and others are now gainfully employed and in various leadership positions.
“The trick is to consult and involve leaders of the community in planning and decision making to create a sense of ownership otherwise you will not make any headway,” stresses Macome.
He explains that the next initiative to be rolled out is a project spearheaded by properly trained young members of the community to build houses which will then be sold or rented out to Mozambicans in need of accommodation.
Perhaps these are the beginnings of a long-term housing for all project.
Wise words and great ambitions indeed from a man whose easy going manner belies his determination to achieve extraordinary results.
The affable Macome seems to have finally found a niche for himself and has now laid a solid foundation for his legacy through his beloved centre after more than 20 years service in the NOC which he has served as executive board member, secretary-general and now president.
As for the Boane Olympafrica Centre, it is not everyday that one unearthes such a compelling contribution to humanity and indeed a demonstration of Olympism in action.
At the end of the day, who can begrudge Boane when this centre is repeatedly cited as a shining example?
I for one can vouch for Boane as a breath of fresh air, indeed an oasis thriving under the watchful eye of the one and only “Comrade” Marcelino Macome.
Long live Boane!
Robert Mutsauki is the former chief executive of the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee and is now working as the Anoca Technical Director, based at the organisation’s headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.