Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe has said football and education excellence must go together if the continent is to match European countries.

The South African business mogul , who owns Premier Soccer League side Mamelodi Sundowns, said this yesterday when he opened the inaugural CAF Schools Championship Cosafa Qualifiers at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.

He said: “Excellence in football, must go hand in hand with excellence in education. That’s why part of the prize money must be used to develop football infrastructure, but also educational infrastructure.

“The world has become technological. We would like part of this money to be used for two technological centres at the schools to help the students to be ready for the fourth industrial revolution.”

Motsepe (L) and Nyamilandu during the launch yesterday

Motsepe, who sponsors the competition through the Motsepe Foundation, said CAF plans to invest heavily in schools football.

He said: “We are confident that sponsoring schools football is going to have a huge impact on not just youth football but schools on the African continent.

“It’s going to make African football world class. Improving quality of football starting from schools is part of our plan in the medium to long-term in order to have nations from Africa competing at the highest level and winning.”

Motsepe said he is confident that the investment will bear fruits.

He said: “We will see the benefits of this huge partnership, and huge investment that CAF is making in schools football in Africa.

“In Africa, many of the top football players were first identified at schools. In order to succeed at schools’ level, many of our kids are going to start playing at age six, seven, eight years old.

“We need to get the teachers involved as well. Train some of the teachers to become coaches. Look at rugby in South Africa. They have won the Rugby World Cup three times. At the heart of that is rugby at schools’ level.

“We are confident that some of these young boys and girls who are playing in this tournament will become some of the best football players in the world.”

Motsepe applauded Ministry of Youth and Sports as well as Ministry of Education for helping grass roots football to develop in the country.

Minister of Sports Richard Chimwendo Banda said government is committed to promoting sports in the country.

He said: “Today is historical because we hosted the CAF president for the first time. Secondly, he came with good news on the investment in football, particularly in schools.

“This is significant. We should thank Motsepe and CAF for considering grass roots football. It means a lot to Africa, it means a lot to Malawi.”

Chimwendo said CAF’s initiative will complement government efforts.

He said: “Government is making sure that sports and education go together.

“That’s why you saw that the deputy Minister of Education is right here.

“We also believe that in schools, students can do better if they are involved in sports.”

Football Associastion of Malawi president Walter Nyamilandu said they are proud to host the CAF president and the schools competition.

Salima Secondary School boys team and Malindi Secondary School girls team are representing Malawi.

South Africa has Clapham High School boys team and Edendale Technical girls team while Ile Perseverance Secondary School boys team and Anse Boileau girls team are Seychelles flag carriers.

Comoros has IQRA School in the boys category and GS Ningha in the girls competition.

Botswana is represented by Thamaga JSS in the boys category and Mothamo JSS in the girls category.

Angola has sent a boys team only, School No.1308 – Rosinha.

The tournament is a dress rehearsal for Region 5 Games that Malawi will host in December.

The winners will pocket $100 000 (about K100 million) while the runners-up will cart home $75 000 (about K75 million)and third-placed team will get $50 000

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