A GLOBAL soccer initiative, Grassroots Soccer, aimed at using the power of soccer to educate, inspire, and mobilisee communities against the spread of HIV/AIDS, has debuted in Lagos.Termed Grazrutsoka in Nigeria, the game, which is currently being managed by Youth Empowerment Initiative (YEDI), will feature six primary schools drawn from Yaba, Ejigbo and Mainland areas of Lagos State.Speaking in Lagos yesterday at Ago-Ijaye Primary School, Ebute Metta, where about 43 pupils over the age of 12 participated in the life saving soccer to mark World HIV/AIDS Day, YEDI Director, Estelle Dogbe, told The Guardian that the need for the game in primary schools could no longer be wished away.Dogbe, who has pushed the programme in about 15 African countries, stated that Nigeria could no longer afford to be isolated from other African countries where soccer is being engineered to save the lives of young people from the pandemic.Her words: ' African countries have a lot to learn from each other. We know the Grassroots Soccer programme is highly effective. It has benefited nearly 400,000 youth in other African countries. So, there is no logical reason for it not to be successful in Nigeria. After all, Nigeria is probably one of the most football crazy nations in the world.'To the Sports Officer of Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Olu Akapo, who was very enthusiastic aboutthe programme, the game would help to elevate health practices of Nigerian pupils.' Twenty coaches from Lagos State have been trained and the programme has already reached over 200 students. Teachers and kids are very enthusiastic (of the programme). The programme is promoting physical wellbeing, giving our children life and coping skills.'Grazrutsoka is a soccer played with football and cones, which are often lined up on the field of play. About 18 cones and three balls could be used so that each line would have six cones and a ball for a team of participating pupils, who are often divided into teams of equal numbers. A pupil from each team would be made to pass a ball with leg in bent- snake like manner without hitting any of the cones.Hitting any of the cones is regarded as having taken a risk synonymous with those predisposing ones to HIV/AIDS: Having sexual intercourse, having multiple sexual partners, sharing sharp objects and having sexual intercourse with an older partner.For every risk taken or for hitting any of the cones while playing the game, there are consequences: Press up for the offending pupil in the first stage, press up for his team for the second stage, and press up for all the participating teams and coaches at the third stage.
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