CAF, FIFA inspire Cairo students
Hundreds of students filled up
the university’s auditorium as globally renowned football legends Youri
Djorkaef, current CEO of the FIFA Foundation, Egyptian icon Ahmed ‘Mido’
Hossam, Clementine Toure, Head Coach, Cote d’Ivoire Women’s National Team and
French women’s football legend, Laura Georges, shared their experiences and
interacted with an audience of young scholars.
The quartet, representing various
generations, spoke about their careers before and after retirement and
emphasized the importance of discipline and dedication as key pillars in
climbing the ladder of success.
Djorkaeff explained the objectives
of the FIFA Foundation which he has been heading over the past few months and
its role in the development of football at all levels and in particular, FIFA’s
Football for Schools programme designed to educate children about important
life skills and positive values through football.
“You are the next leaders of the
world. Study makes you understanding and everything you are learning today will
help your future. We are here because we had some achievements in our lives
which make us legends having played high level professional football.”
He added: “Today is an occasion
to give back to the society. Before, thousands of people were watching us on
the pitch in the stadium, and it is now our turn to be in front of you all and
share such a great moment with you.”
Having left for Europe as a 17-year-old,
Mido, whose career took him to Belgium, Netherlands, France, Italy and England
emphasized the importance of dedication towards achieving one’s dream.
“If you have a big dream, you
have to work towards it and have determination. It's not easy but with determination
you can achieve and realise your dream.”
Winning the 2008 edition of the
Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with Equatorial Guinea remains the biggest feat
for Ivorian Clementine Toure. One of the elite female football brains on the
continent, she cites her passion for a sport dominated by the opposite sex as
the driving force.
“Football is passion, cohesion
and a way of life. You have to have a dream, believe in your qualities, live
the dream. Through football, we can get it all.”
Laura Georges, who earned over
180 caps with France, recalled the impact of the experience on the pitch in
shaping her life.
“Our experience as players is not
only relevant to football but to life. I was tough and I was not scared of
boys. When I was playing with girls, I was tough.
“Sometimes, you have
opportunities and you have to grab them and use them to bring changes. You all
have the chances, if you stick to what you are, you can bring about change.”
Founded in 1908, CU is Egypt’s
premier university and has a student population of more than 230,000.
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