CIFAS Football Academy Sponsorship

Comon Cajaf, the largest importer of meat and fish in Benin and one of the top four in Ghana, opened the CIFAS academy in 2006. CIFAS is a purpose built facility catering for up to 200 students and consisting of a state-of-the-art schooling and training block, a separate dormitory building and various full sized football pitches. The academy selects gifted footballers, aged between 11 and 18 years old, from throughout Benin and enrolls them in an intensive training and schooling regime. The intention is to give a real opportunity for some of Benin’s talented youngsters to achieve their potential in the world of football.

 

J. Marr (Seafoods) has agreed to sponsor the youngest year class, Year 5, currently aged 11 – 14 years and will follow their progress as they develop under the tutelage of the CIFAS academy.

To formalise the agreement Michael Moore (J.Marr (Seafoods) Managing Director) and Stefan Williams, (Trader responsible for francophone trade)visited the CIFAS academy on 15th October 2008 to attend a presentation ceremony. The ceremony, broadcast on all of Benin’s national TV networks, included addresses from the Patron, Sebastien Ajavon, and the key CIFAS personnel. The students of Year 5 were introduced and presented with the new J.Marr (Seafoods) football strip and in turn Michael and Stefan were presented with ceremonial tribal effects. The afternoon was concluded by a lively display of tribal dancing – in which Michael and Stefan are rumoured to have taken part!

 

J. Marr (Seafoods) would like to thank Sebastien Ajavon and his team at CIFAS for the warm reception at the presentation and for the opportunity to be involved in this most worthy cause. We wish the students of CIFAS the very best of luck in the future and urge them to take every advantage of the wonderful opportunity they have been given.

We look forward to the day that a student of CIFAS plays for Hull City at the KC Stadium!

Further pictures are below.