Johan Neeskens meets president of Colombia on behalf of KNVB WorldCoaches

WorldCoaches ambassador Johan Neeskens and the Colombian president Iván Duque. - Foto: KNVB Media

Legends never go out of style. Johan Neeskens may have retired from his football career back in 1991, more than twenty years later he is still widely known all around the world. Even in Colombia, where president Iván Duque has vivid memories of the Dutch international.

A visit from Johan Neeskens to Colombia on behalf of KNVB WorldCoaches gave the perfect opportunity for the president to meet the former football player who he considers to be one of his childhood heroes. On January 24 a meeting between the president and the former football player happened, alongside members of the Dutch Embassy and a representative of the Dutch foundation War Child. During the visit Johan Neeskens offered a official shirt of the Dutch national team to the president.

Debut in Colombia

Johan Neeskens is visiting Colombia till January 29, together with two others coaches connected to the KNVB WorldCoaches program. It is the first time the program visits this country. During their stay they will participate in the project Juégetala por la Vida y el Futuro which translates to English as Playing for your life and future. In cooperation with the War Child Foundation and the Signify Foundation, the KNVB WorldCoaches will run a course which involves 75 youngsters from Bogota. The course allows the participants to become a WorldCoach.

The program translates elements from the game of football into everyday life following the idea that concepts like perseverance, teamwork, creativity, responsibility and self-awareness are important both in football and in life. In the WorldCoaches program these concepts add up to the notion of life skills. Using the three pillars of personal development, social cohesion and health the program tries to help young people find the right balance to be able to navigate through life. At the end of a succesful week of training the participants will recieve a certificate.

A good entry on the job market

The life skills offered by the WorldCoaches program help young people to make a good entry on the local job market in Colombia. Workshops offered by the Signify Foundation teaches them how to present themselves, a skill they can use to start as a small entrepeneur in their local surroundings. Furthermore, becoming a WorldCoach comes with certain responsibilities. Using the concept of pay it forward – or play it forward as you will – the young people are expected to share their knowledge and become a rolemodel to others.

The sum of all this makes WorldCoaches a full circle program in the eyes of a football legend like Johan Neeskens. “At a certain age you become aware of the knowlegde and experience you carry with you and the fact that you can share this with young people who love football and those who want to become a coach. Training and life lessons offer joy and structure to young people, which they can use in both football and life.”

About WorldCoaches Everything about the international programme WorldCoaches of the KNVB.