One of the most-played sports in the world, football brings together people from all walks of life. The popularity of the ‘beautiful game’ makes it a useful tool for community outreach and, with this in mind, the British Council and British Premier League recently launched their skills development initiative, Premier Skills, in Malawi.

The international coaching development project, piloted in 2007 and 2008, uses UEFA and English Football Association coaches to enhance the skills of young football coaches, as well as develop their leadership and English language abilities. Through week-long courses, coaches are taught to use football as a tool for skills and community development.

In Malawi, the seventh African country to host Premier Skills, the British Council and Premier League have partnered with the Malawi Football Association to develop the skills of more than 40 young coaches.

Premier League head of public relations Tim Vine says it was first decided to take Premier Skills to Africa in recognition of the continent’s contribution to the league.

‘Africa continues to play an important role in the English league. There are over 50 African players from 19 countries in the English league,’ says Vine. Among these are stars such as Didier Drogba, Kolo Touré and Salomon Kalou, all from Côte d’Ivoire, Ghanaian Michael Essien and Togo’s Emmanuel Adebayor.

Africa’s showing in the Premier League has ensured a huge following in the continent, says Vine. ‘To show our gratitude, we would like to help improve the lives of people in the community as well as train the coaches.’

British Council education programme manager Gift Thakalakwa says the partnership boosts the Premier League’s image in Malawi. ‘It enhances the way Malawians think about the Premier League. It gives Malawians the opportunity to see a face of the Premier League as not just on television but real and in their communities.’

Thakalakwa says the British Council expects the participants to use football to bring communities together and as a problem-solving tool. ‘It’s not just about what happens on the pitch or on the screen. The English Premier League is using football to improve the communities’ health [and] education, as well as tackle crime and anti-social behaviour,’ he says.

‘We are really pleased to be part of this project; it raises our standard in Malawi. We want to hear good stories from them and we are hoping it will not only change them but their communities as well.’

At the launch event, Malawian Football Association president Walter Nyamilandu thanked the British Council for the initiative. ‘The most important aspect of the Premier Skills programme is that it recognises the role of the communities,’ Nyamilandu said. ‘These 43 coaches are volunteers and have been drawn from all over the country. We expect that after the training, they will improve the lives of their communities.’

Former Wimbledon midfielder and Jamaican international Robbie Earl, who will be conducting training in Malawi, believes the Premier League does more than just broadcast games around the world. ‘Some of the students that we first worked with in Cairo and Alexandria in Egypt have got jobs on the back of the work that we’ve done,’ he told Premier Skills’ website.

Earl says the project participants have an insatiable desire to learn. ‘They’re like sponges – the more we give them, the more they take on board. For a week, it’s non-stop. We’re starting at eight in the morning and sometimes not getting finished until seven at night, yet before and after people are still coming to ask you questions. They just want to accept as much information as they can to take back home.’

To find out what’s been happening in Africa visit our news in Africa section. To see upcoming events visit our events page.