The Confederation of African Football (“CAF”) on Wednesday signed a historic memorandum of understanding with Africa’s largest higher education institution, the University of Cape Town (“UCT”) in Cairo, Egypt .
The agreement between the two organizations will enable the University of Cape Town to offer tailor-made courses and programs as an African Center of Excellence in Education, the aim of which will be to develop knowledge, create capacities and strengthen the administrative skills of football stakeholders in Africa.
The Memorandum of Understanding signed today by Véron Mosengo-Omba, CAF General Secretary, and Professor Dayanand Reddy, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, heralds a new era for African football, prioritizing education and skills development of administrators responsible for leading member associations.
Mosengo-Omba said: “The University of Cape Town is one of the leading centers of learning globally and CAF is very proud to be associated with such a reputable institution. The agreement between the two organizations is a testament to also the work that has been done to transform CAF and position it as one of the best development organizations in Africa. The agreement is in line with the promise made by CAF President, Dr Patrice Motsepe, there. three years; that of improving the efficiency and professionalism of African football. We believe that this collaboration will not only train future football leaders, but also consolidate the skills and capacities of the players, thus promoting evolution. of the African football landscape.
UCT Board Chairman Norman Arendse said: “UCT is absolutely delighted to partner with CAF on this critically important project: training and developing leaders and future leaders. of African football. UCT shares the vision of CAF, which is to develop and support a world-class organization based entirely on excellence.
Professor Dayanand Reddy remarked: “The partnership with CAF is a further testament to UCT’s commitment to collaboration to build capacity and unlock leadership potential on our continent. We are proud to to partner with CAF in this exciting enterprise.”
Last year, the University of Cape Town was ranked as the number one university in Africa in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (“ARWU”). Earlier this year, the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings also placed the University of Cape Town first in Africa.
The program will include a combination of online and face-to-face modules which will take place at the Graduate School of Business at the University of Cape Town. The main objectives of the program are, among others, the following:
- Improve the skills and expertise of African football players.
- Strengthen the capacities of stakeholders within the 54 member associations of CAF.
- Stimulate innovation and encourage football leaders to develop their strategic acumen and strengthen their leadership capabilities.
- Contribute to the advancement and sustainability of African football.