DILI, 05 August 2025 (TATOLI) – The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and Korea Development Overseas & Consulting (KODAC), in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Art, and Culture (MJDAC), held a Facility Maintenance Manual Sharing Presentation at Palm Springs Hotel in Dili.
The event brought together key stakeholders, government representatives, and project partners to share essential guidelines on facility maintenance and discuss strategies for the long-term sustainability of sports facilities established through the KOICA Sports for Children Development Project.
Participants actively engaged in Q&A and feedback sessions, reaffirming their commitment to ensuring that the facilities continue to serve as a growth engine for youth development through sports.
The joint effort is vital to ensure the sustainable maintenance of sports facilities, including the football fields in Kampung Alor, Kampung Baru (Comoro), Bintang (Bidau), and Becora Sports Center.
These facilities serve as hubs for training youth coaches and players, organizing leagues, and providing education programs such as child protection and life skills.
Project Manager of KODAC, Jae Sung Kwak, said the facilities were established to build a sustainable youth sports ecosystem by strengthening the capacity of sports leaders and institutions in Timor-Leste.
“The Sports Center aims to foster the overall growth of youth football in Timor-Leste through coach training, league operation, sports events, and special programs for children. The local fields enable inclusive growth and social integration by supporting diverse children, including vulnerable groups, and promote holistic child development and shared values of social inclusion,” said Jae Sung Kwak in his presentation.
MJDAC General Director, Isabel Adalzisa Fátima Fereira, said the manual would guide the ministry in managing the facilities in Becora and its three branches for long-term use.
“In the short term, KOICA will hand over the Korea–Timor-Leste Friendship Sport Center to MJDAC. Today’s presentation gives our staff the knowledge to manage and maintain these sports fields effectively,” she said.
Fereira added that the government, through MJDAC, has allocated US$150,000 for the maintenance of the main sports center in Becora and the three football fields.
The KOICA Sports Center in Becora was built under the “Sport for Children Development in Timor-Leste” project, with construction starting in October 2022.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
