At the start of 2023, United Through Sport Mauritius embarked on an exciting partnership with Quatre Borne Football Club, a well-established community football club with a rich history of developing young talent. The club has been a pillar of the local football scene for decades, producing players who have gone on to join elite football academies on the island. Even UTS Mauritius Country Director Darren Taylor played for the club in the early 1990s, alongside Club President Dilip, who was a player in the 70s and 80s.
Understanding the club’s crucial role in grassroots football, Darren took the initiative to bring in international volunteer football coaches, to join United Through Sport Mauritius, enhancing training sessions and providing young players with new opportunities to grow their skills.
The club’s dedicated lifelong head coach, Bolah, expressed his appreciation for the partnership:
“We have been supporting the community for decades and we have managed to develop the football talent for this region and city. I have dedicated my life to the community and we have warmly welcomed United Through Sport Mauritius support. As coaches we are getting much older and we need more youth coaches at club level. We hope to retain our talented youth and one day have a very strong competitive team that stays with the club, but provides pathways to elite football. We lose a lot of the talented youth players to youth academy and having the international football coaches supporting us means we now have an exciting partnership to offer to our local youth players that may now stay with our club”.
Despite its strong legacy, Quatre Borne Football Club had fallen on hard times, struggling with a lack of sports equipment and coaching support. United Through Sport Mauritius stepped in to provide much-needed resources and assistance throughout 2024, ensuring that the club and its young players had the tools to succeed.
In March and April, international football coaches donated essential sports equipment, including footballs, cones, and bibs, after several weeks of coaching. Special thanks go to Kep Munsterman, Cas Denkers, Ties Wiemer, and Joris den Drijver for their generous contributions. Kenneth Wallace also played a significant role in coaching, bringing his expertise as a UK county-level referee.
As the year progressed, more football coaches and sports coordinators joined the project. In July and August, Euay Gray and Darcy Graham contributed second-hand football kits for training and competitions, further strengthening the club’s resources. Lead sports coordinator Charis Gray made a particularly special impact by providing goalkeeping gloves for a young, talented goalkeeper who previously had none—an unforgettable moment for the aspiring player.
By September, international football coaches Christian Elliott and Maxime Petite had taken on leading roles in coaching, guiding club players into local football tournaments. Their high-quality coaching sessions helped improve the team’s performance, reflecting the year-long dedication to player development.
Your support can help us continue developing grassroots football in Mauritius. Whether through donations, sponsorships, or volunteering, you can make a lasting impact.
How You Can Help:
- Fund coaching programs to enhance training quality
- Donate equipment to support young players
- Sponsor international coaches to mentor local talent
- Join our programme as an international volunteer
- Create pathways for aspiring footballers
Every contribution, big or small, strengthens our mission. Get involved today and help shape the future of football in Mauritius!
