Walter Wilson Nana
Buea, Cameroon
More than 700 footballs have been given out to the pupils of United Action for Children, UAC, Nursery and Primary school in Bwitingi, Buea municipality. Christened ‘UAC Play Around Programme’ – a child going home with a ball, Thomas Orock, Guidance Counsellor and initiator of the projector said it is an opportunity to see the power in playing football so that children can grow up in a responsible manner.
700 pupils in United Action for Children, UAC, Nursery and Primary school got footballs to play around with
Orock said football is at the centre of everything and all activities, therefore, it is important for children to play around their vicinity and encourage the spirit of sharing. “It goes beyond that. Children must play together. In football, there is no white or black. There is no enmity. It is all about friendship and love. We must inculcate these values to our children,” he mentioned.
After initial ideas of a one child, one computer, one child, one chicken and now one child, one ball, Orock explained the
"Thanks UAC, I got my football to play," a pupil of the Nursery and Primary school in Bwitingi, Buea
source of his inspiration. “A man is born to have a solution to problems. When I go to bed, I reflect on how to improve on the wellbeing of human beings. I ask the question how do I want to be remembered? As somebody who owned many houses and slept just in one room? As somebody who owned many cars and drove just in one? I want to be remembered as somebody who helped many people as much as possible. I reflect on issues that can bring joy to many people.”
Thomas Orock, initiator of One Child, One Ball explains his inspiration to the press.
He saw in the gesture an opportunity to build individual talent and prepare the future of Cameroon football, which is dwindling, though we qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup to open in Brazil in the weeks ahead. “We must get talents from our communities. The Eto’os of today started from the smaller communities like ours. So, we must begin encouraging our children and whip up the talent in them,” he indicated.
A Class Six pupil of UAC, Jesus Abangma Arrah expressed delight with the gesture from the management of his school and promised to play around with his friends. “They should keep up with the good work and I look forward to shine someday like Eto’o and the other big names in football across the world.”
A father of five kids in UAC, Paul Simo lauded Thomas Orock for his distinguished ideas, noting that children have potentials that must be tactfully developed and encouraged at all cost. “Some may not quickly understand the philosophy of Mr Orock, but it is enriching. Football is a medium to project and promote peace in today’s turbulent world. It is one of the most efficient methods to rally people together. This is another way of looking at the other side of the world. Mr Orock will not stop giving us brilliant surprises. Kudos to him. It is a good mix of education and the talent embedded in you,” he said
Tabeson Eyere, a teacher of Government Technical College, Bova and parent of a pupil at UAC was not indifferent to the gesture. “This will help my children and the rest develop skills in sports, their social life and pursue a good relationship with one another. Our children have to be friendly, while developing their football spirit for the future,” she noted.
