What do you need to play football? A ball, players and a pitch. If the first two elements are easy to come by, the third is often quite problematic, especially in countries with more extreme climates. As part of its 'Win in Africa with Africa' project, FIFA has decided to do something to improve this situation. Between now and the start of the qualifying campaign for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa ™, 52 countries throughout the great continent - all the member countries with the exception of South Africa - will be equipped with an artificial pitch of international standard.

Major project launches are often hampered by bureaucratic delays. The start of the Winning in Africa with Africa "artificial pitches" project was announced in July 2006 by President Blatter at the Munich Congress. By end of the first quarter of 2008, 52 countries will have an artificial playing surface with a minimum rating of at least 1 Star, according to international standards. The total budget of the project stands at close to $38 million USD. An invitation to tender has been issued to all manufacturers under licence to FIFA.

Pitches for all
The goals of such a large-scale operation are multiple. However, the first objective is a basic one: to enable all footballers in Africa to play on decent pitches. The capacity for use of an artificial pitch vastly exceeds that of a natural one, which must withstand the ravages of an arid climate. On natural turf, it is possible to play every three to five days in Africa. On artificial surfaces, this increases to two matches per day, plus training sessions. At long last, youth, women's and men's national teams will be able to have equal playing time.

The environmental impact is also a major consideration, specifically in terms of preserving natural resources. These pitches can be maintained without the use of water, a rare and precious commodity that can be very expensive in Africa. The project will also involve the training and provision of stadium maintenance personnel at an average cost of up to 3000 USD per year, significantly less than the cost of traditional watering. Besides, an artificial pitch requires only limited maintenance. This means that once it has been laid, the associations can concentrate more easily on other important aspects of the stadium such as security, stands or changing rooms.

There is also a political consideration. A country which does not participate in competitions or qualifying campaigns for FIFA tournaments for more than two years loses its right to vote in Congress. Previously, the deplorable quality of certain pitches has forced certain nations to withdraw from international competitions, as was the case for Djibouti. Henceforth, this type of situation will no longer occur.

A better spectacle
The quality of the game is decidedly better on an artificial pitch than on a poorly maintained natural pitch. This enables the country's national teams to progress more quickly. It also helps national leagues to increase their revenues and therefore their appeal, in a media and marketing sense. Ever since artificial surfaces were installed in the Cape Verde Islands, the number of league goals scored has increased by 60%. The pitches can also include (alternate-shade) horizontal grid lines, as is common in Britain. This has already happened in Tanzania, Ethiopia, Mali, Madagascar and Mauritius. It is done for aesthetic reasons, and therefore to promote television contracts and attract new sponsors.

Perhaps better still, these projects have opened the way to further initiatives. Agreements have been signed with governments, national associations or companies to have two pitches instead of one, for example. Far from providing a makeshift solution, Winning in Africa with Africa has well and truly laid the foundations for development - the very essence of this project.