The
official launch of the 2013 Nedbank Cup provided insight on the plans of the
sponsor and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) to expand the competition’s
influence beyond the field of play. The launch follows Nedbank reaffirming its
commitment to South African football at the end of 2012 by renewing their
sponsorship agreement with the PSL for a further period of five years.
Since
inception, the Nedbank Cup has proven to be a great career launch-pad for many
of the country’s top football stars. Football lovers will have a fair share of
the spoils when Mzansi’s amateur teams clash against PSL giants for top
honours. The first feat in the round of 32 is scheduled for 22 February and
will see Ajax Cape Town play against last year’s finalists Mamalodi Sundowns.
On the same day, Mbomela FC will face either Vasco Da Gama or Santos. The other
matches in the round of 32 matches promise to deliver equal excitement for the
fans.
Moreover,
in line with the Cup format, Nedbank launched an exciting initiative whereby
they are calling upon all amateur soccer players to challenge the next Nedbank
Cup Champions. The new initiative promises to whet the appetite of all reality
TV viewers as they will follow the progress of thousands of ordinary South
Africans in their quest for glory. All South Africans will be encouraged to
look out for the regional try-outs wherein they can audition as amateurs to be
a team member of the Ke Yona Team.
Yes,
now anyone with a bit of football skills will have a chance to try and make the
team which will go head-to-head with the 2013 Nedbank Cup Champions. This
addition to the Nedbank Cup further reaffirms Nedbank’s commitment and passion
for soccer and community upliftment. The
Ke Yona Team try-outs will be broadcast on television where South Africans will
also have an opportunity to vote for their final squad.
“One
of our objectives is to be a bank for all South Africans and football has
proven to be a great platform to connect with the communities we serve. The
bank will continue to make a positive contribution towards empowering football
stars and communities with the skills and resources they need to make things
happen.” said Thulani Sibeko, Group Executive for Marketing, Communication and
Corporate Affairs at Nedbank.
The
Nedbank Cup will also continue to benefit schools and communities around the
country. For the 2013 season, the bank
will donate R8 000 per goal scored towards the Nedbank Cup Goals4Goals
campaign. In total, R1 million will be
donated to kit handovers and soccer training to 100 schools across the country
while an additional R1 million will go towards the establishment of a
multipurpose Sport Court for a school in South Africa.
Last
year, Nedbank donated soccer kits to more than 64 schools across the country
and also donated R200 000 to the MC Weiler School in Alexandra to assist in
building a sports field; thanks to the Goals4Goals campaign launched in
partnership with The Sports Trust.
“As
the League, we are looking forward to what is expected to be an exciting
Nedbank Cup Competition. Most of the clubs have had time to recuperate during
the Africa Cup of Nations mini-break and we hope this will reflect in higher
standards on the field. The PSL, together with its partners Nedbank, are going
out of their way to ensure the success of this tournament” said PSL Acting CEO,
Cambridge Mokanyane.
Remaining
true to its core business and its goal of being a bank for all; the bank will
also utilise the Nedbank Cup platform as a vehicle to further engage with the
mass market and to educate South Africans on various financial matters.
