FUZ, players in HIV awareness

Sports Reporter
THE Footballers Union of Zimbabwe are now into the third phase of Half-Time Talk/Keep HIV Offside — a programme where they impart knowledge on football players and are now training the women’s soccer players from the national Super League. The project is funded by United States President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief and began in 2011.
It has since trained over 480 Premiership players.

These trained players will in turn go into schools to talk about HIV and AIDS with a particular bias towards male circumcision.
FUZ are carrying the programme through a consultant who is an expert in HIV/AIDS and is the facilitator.

Yesterday, players from Mufakose Queens were taken through important topics such as sport and health and HIV and AIDS.
The facilitator also covered other aspects such as the role of soccer players in HIV prevention, sexual reproductive health, gender-based violence, breast and cervical cancer as well as drug and alcohol abuse.

FUZ began the programme with Bulawayo teams New Orleans and Inline Academy and by the time the week ends they would have taken it to such teams like Masvingo Queens.

FUZ administrator and Projects Coordinator, Chiedza Gadzirayi, said they believe by equipping soccer players the messages will spread to communities.

“We are looking at all the 12 women’s teams in the league. This is the third phase of the programme which began in 2011 and we are now looking at the girl child and issues that have to do with women and HIV and AIDS.

“We believe equipping the girls with this will really be helpful. Football players are seen as role models in their communities.
“The response has been quite overwhelming and most of the participants feel there is need to invest more time into the programme and also carry it out more often.

“Former players such as Kwinji 15 (Sithetheliwe Sibanda) said there is need to go to the junior level as well.
“We believe the topics being covered directly impact on the players and will help them in their career as soccer players,” said Gadzirayi.