MDGs COMMUNITY AWARENESS RAISING PROJECT AT GRASSFIELD COMMUNITY PLAYING FIELD, LUMLEY, FREETOWN ON THE 30 th October 6 th November, 2011 CONTACT T PERSON Ambassador Patrick Solomon Baimba Youth Millennium Development Ambassadors C/o Xara Computers (SL) Ltd, 9 Malamah Thomas Street, Freetown. Cell: +232 33 110791 +232 78 330031 E-mail: Solomon@afcopb.org Web: http://www.mdgambassador.org International Office Contact The Standard Plaza, Suite 7, 3 rd Floor, Behind Wadata House, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja, Nigeria. Tel: +234-8059964018 or Email: info@mdgambassadors.org Web: hyyp://www.mdgambassadors.org 1 Youth Millennium Development Ambassadors
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND YOUTH MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT AMBASSADORS YMDAs Youth Millennium Development Ambassadors in collaboration with other official partners will stage the First (1 st ) ever eight (8) teams Youth Soccer Tournament 2011 in Sierra Leone. In the year 2000, the United Nations proposed a daunting task to the world s nations. This challenge was expressed in the Millennium Declaration and later articulated in the eight Millennium Development Goals, aiming to eradicate poverty and build a more positive global society by the year 2015. The leaders of the 189 nations present made the commitment, echoing the desires of the world s people to close the divide between nations and work together to promote happiness and peace for all people. The resulting UN Millennium Declaration of 2000 was later translated into the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The following eight goals are meant to be met by 2015 and sustained throughout the millennium: 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. 2. Achieve universal primary education. 3. Promote gender equality and empower women. 4. Reduce child mortality. 5. Improve maternal health. 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases. 7. Ensure environmental sustainability. 8. Global partnership for development. The necessity of the Youth Millennium Development Ambassadors became clear in considering the strategy needed to reach the goal. The changes necessary to achieve these global aspirations must be implemented on a local level, meaning that multiple grassroots initiatives aimed to mobilize individuals, families, and communities are needed. The Youth Millennium Development Ambassadors are a group of youth peer educators and leaders dedicated to the needed changes, and are able to take ownership to reach the goals. Utilizing the wisdom, networks, and ambition of these young educators and leaders will allow us to push forward the initiatives that promote the realization of the MDGs. Additionally, we cannot hope to see real change unless every person knows what is being done in an effort to positively change each of their lives. By recognizing prominent and outstanding youth advocates within the communities with the title of Youth Millennium Development Ambassador, we are more likely to communicate the changes and see them successfully carried out. The Youth Millennium Development Ambassadors title is a celebration of commitment and a commission to a higher duty and responsibility, which recognizes the past accomplishments and the potentials to do more. Vision: The Vision of the Youth Millennium Development Ambassadors Initiative is the collective building of new world on the ideals of collective reliance, mutual cooperation and co-prosperity. The initiative envisions a world where all young people have the right to development and are collectively responsible for building such a world, where all people and nations have the opportunities to become fully developed. The Youth Millennium Development Ambassadors initiative envision a globally developed world where all people live together as members of a globally developed family of humankind. Mission: The Mission of the Youth Millennium Development Ambassadors is to inspire, empower, connect and celebrate youth leaders to commit to facilitate the realization of the global MDGs in local communities. To achieve these goals, the Youth Millennium Development Ambassadors will work on a personal level in their families, schools and communities to foster a growing network of youth leaders that can contribute to the positive change in the society. PURPOSE OF FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT The football tournament is first and foremost meant to afford the youth populace of Sierra Leone the opportunity to cultivate the right and desired attitude towards youth and community development through sport, football to be specific. Furthermore it gives young local players the opportunity to display (and compare) their skills in front of their home crowd and in front of observers and high level personalities from various works of Life. It also falls in line with the Government s drive for attitudinal change and rebranding of the Sierra Leone which is strongly backed by the His Excellency, The President. The tournament will provide an opportunity where soccer players, supporters, club members, officials and VIPs will be learn about the Millennium Development Goals and how the core lessons of soccer (self discipline and adherence to the rules of the game, team work and goal scoring) can be applied to community development. TIME AND VENUE 2 Youth Millennium Development Ambassadors
The tournament will take place in Freetown from October 31 st to November 6 th, 2011. The venue will be the Grassfield Community Playing Field, Lumley, Freetown, Sierra Leone. TOURNAMENT FORMAT The competition will comprise of Eight (8) invitational teams from around the communities. Each Team will represent one of the MDGs eight (8) goals. The teams will be divided into two (2) groups, 4 teams in each group. The teams will play each other one time. Number one and two in each group will advance to the cup (knock-out) stage, and the winner will be the last man standing. There will be a play-off for 3rd and 4th place. The winner will be awarded a plaque and a trophy and gold medals. Runner-up will receive a smaller plaque and silver-medals. There will be several other awards like the player of the tournament, the MDGs GOLDEN BOOT, Fair Play award All the players will be given certificates of participation. CEREMONIES The tournament will be opened with a ceremony at the Grassfield Community Playing Field, officiated by a high profile personality, immediately followed by the opening match. The kick-off will be performed by the said personality. The finals will take place at Grassfield Community Playing Field; kick-off performed by a celebrity Price-giving ceremony will take place at the same venue. The opening ceremony shall also feature the following activities: Introductory lecture on the Millennium Development Goals Decoration of selected youth leaders as Youth Millennium Development Ambassadors Presentation of the Millennium Development Ambassadors award to some distinguished VIPs PUBLICITY AND EXPOSURE The local TV station, SLBC, will be covering the event. Furthermore representatives from Media houses both Electronics and Print Media. They will cover the events daily. The matches shall be publicized on the websites and facebook of the Youth Millennium Development Ambassadors TOURNAMENT RULES All matches shall be played in accordance with FIFA Laws of the Game and all applicable rules of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA). The tournament organizer, (YMDA) shall form a Tournament Committee including, but not limited to YMDA, or any of the sponsors. The Tournament Committee shall be responsible for all arrangements and decisions in connection with the Tournament. YMDA has received the necessary permission to host the Tournament from SLFA. REFEREES: All matches will be officiated by referees affiliated with National Football Associations, and supervised by the SLFA. Decisions of the referees are binding. The match results will be reported by the referees to the tournament organizing body. TEAM OFFICIALS: Every team must be accompanied by four team officials of 18 years of age or older, including one physio. The team officials will be responsible for the behaviour of their players, on and off the field of play. They will be held responsible for the actions of the team. PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS: a) Players. All players must be born on or after 1991 and 2 players may be born on or after 1990. The age of the players will be checked by the tournament committee before the start of the tournament. No players may be added after the start of the first match. 3 Youth Millennium Development Ambassadors
b) Teams. The team official must hand in, prior to the start of the tournament, a completed players list with 14 players to the tournament committee. All players must be registered members of the team as listed with the their respective Football Club. No select/scratch teams will be eligible to play in the Tournament. It is the responsibility of the team official to ensure that all information is up to date, accurate and that all necessary permissions have been obtained for each player and the Team to participate in the Tournament. All decisions regarding eligibility are at the absolute discretion of the Tournament Committee. DURATION OF PLAY 2x40 minutes. The tournament committee is entitled to alter duration of play and the tournament schedules if circumstances dictate. Half time intervals will be 5minutes.The final will be played 2x45 minutes. POINTS AWARDED A match winner will be awarded with 3 points. A match draw will award both teams with 1 point. TOURNAMENT FORMAT Group Games: Each team will play every other team in their group once. Final positioning of each team will be determined by the number of points accrued. Where teams are level on points in their group, the following applies: 1. Goal difference 2. Most goals scored 3. The result of the group match between the teams concerned 4. By the taking of kicks from the penalty mark. AWARDS: CHAMPIONS TROPHY PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT HIGHEST GOAL SCORER FAIR PLAY PLAYER PLACING MATCHES AND FINAL: In the event of a draw in the 3rd/4th play- off or the final, 2x10 of minutes extra time will be played followed if necessary by kicks from the penalty mark, taken in accordance with the Laws of the Game (FIFA) TEAM SHEETS AND SUBSTITUTIONS: Prior to each game the team official must hand to the referee a team sheet that must give each player s name, number and date of birth. SUBSTITUTES: 3 players from 7 substitutes named on the team sheet may be played per game. The referee shall be informed of the proposed substitution, before it is made. A Substitution can only be made during stoppage in the game. A player who has been replaced shall not take any further part in the game. CLUB COLOURS: Every club must submit two colours in advance of the tournament. The second shirt colour must clearly contrast with the usual club colour. If the referee determines prior to the start of the match that the colours of both teams are too similar, the team listed first on the schedule must change to the second colour. DISCIPLINE: When a player is cautioned (shown a yellow card) or sent from the field (shown a red card) the referee will notify the tournament committee immediately after the match. Any player who has received two cautions (yellow cards) in the tournament, will be suspended from the team s next game. If a player has been sent off (shown a red card) the tournament committee will decide what penalty will be given 4 Youth Millennium Development Ambassadors
in addition to a minimum suspension from the team s next game. Any player who has received one caution (yellow card) by the end of the Group Games will have their record cleared before entering into the placing and knock-out matches. The Tournament Committee shall review all abandoned matches and in a case where it is to the advantage of the Competition and does no injustice to either Club, shall be empowered to order the score at the time of the abandonment to stand. In all cases where the Tournament Committee are satisfied that a match was abandoned owing to the conduct of one team or its club member(s) they shall be empowered to award the points for the match to the opponents and/or take what other action they may deem necessary. In cases where a match is abandoned owing to the conduct of both teams and their club members, the Tournament Committee shall take such action as they consider appropriate. PROTESTS: The referee s decisions regarding facts connected with play are final and binding. Protests involving such decisions will therefore not be considered. All other protest should be made only by the responsible team official to the tournament committee no later than 15 minutes after the match. The tournaments committee s decision is final and binding. ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS: The Tournament Committee decides in the above-mentioned cases and in to the matters not covered by these tournament rules, according to the rules of SLFA as issued by FIFA) RESPONSILILITY It is the responsibility of each team to make sure that adequate attention must be given to their players. Tournaments sponsor(s) and tournament organizer are not responsible for any personal injury or injury to others caused by the player or team official, damage or theft of belongings such as bags, phones or money nor for any error, accident or failure caused to or by any person or company. THESE RULES ARE BINDING TO ALL PARTICIPATING TEAMS. TEAMS & GROUPS GROUP A Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty & Name of the team representing this goal Goal 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education & Name of the team representing this goal Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women & Name of the team representing this goal Goal 4: Reduce Child Mortality & Name of the team representing this goal GROUP B Goal 5: Improve Maternal Health & Name of the team representing this goal Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases & Name of the team representing this goal Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability & Name of the team representing this goal Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development & Name of the club representing this goal 5 Youth Millennium Development Ambassadors
DAY 1: OPENING CEREMONY (October 30th) MATCH 1: Goal 1 vs Goal 3 MATCH 2: Goal 2 vs Goal 4 DAY 2: (October 31st) MATCH 3: Goal 5 vs Goal 7 MATCH 4: Goal 6 vs Goal 8 DAY 3: (November 1 st ) MATCH 5: Goal 1 vs Goal 4 MATCH 6: Goal 2 vs Goal 3 DAY 4: (November 2 nd ) MATCH 7: Goal 5 vs Goal 8 MATCH 8: Goal 6 vs Goal 7 MATCH SCHEDULE DAY 5: (November 3 rd ) Lectures on Learn and Play: Talks on MDGs and Soccer Skills DAY 6: (November 4 th ) MATCH 9: Goal 1 vs Goal 2 MATCH 10: Goal 3 vs Goal 4 DAY 7: (November 5 th ) MATCH 11: Goal 5 vs Goal 6 MATCH 12: Goal 7 vs Goal 8 DAY 8: (November 6 th ) FINAL/THIRD PLAY MATCHES MATCH 13: Runner Up of Group A vs Runner Up of Group B MATCH 14: Winner of Group A vs Winner of Group B Presentation of Trophies, prizes and commissioning of Youth Millennium Development Ambassadors 6 Youth Millennium Development Ambassadors