CEO of the Manchester United Foundation John Shields and a number offootball coaches will visit Ho Chi Minh City and provide free footballcoaching for local social workers and vulnerable children from June30-July 3.

The United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF) said on June 30 that the coaching, the first programme of itskind in Vietnam, will provide 10 volunteer coaches from several footballclubs in Ho Chi Minh City and 20 social workers with football skills aswell as communication skills for working with vulnerable children.

Shields expressed his delight at the partnership with UNICEF to offercoaching for social workers and coaches in Vietnam.

Football has the power to gather people as a group, he said, hopingthat the communication channel would open up more opportunities forchildren to receive necessary support.

YoussoufAbdel-Jelil, UNICEF Representative in Vietnam, declared football ahealthy sporting activity for vulnerable children to integrate intocommunity and develop essential life skills.

TheManchester United Foundation has sponsored a number of UNICEFprogrammes in Vietnam to protect children vulnerable to abuse,exploitation and neglect.

Funding is also usedto support orphans, victims of child labour or trafficking, and othersliving on the streets or suffering from drug abuse.-VNA