The
seventh edition of the Nedbank Cup was launched this evening in Johannesburg
whereby Nedbank re-affirmed its ongoing commitment to South African football
and the communities it serves.
Known
as South Africa’s own FA Cup, the tournament’s David and Goliath metaphor sees
Mzansi’s lower division teams take a shot at football glory by tackling the
giants and more established Premier Division clubs.
According
to Sydney Mbhele, Divisional Executive for Group Marketing at Nedbank, the
tournament is in line with the bank’s vision of enabling all South Africans to
“Make Things Happen”.
The
biggest winners are always the fans, who get to see some spectacular football
as their teams go on the hunt for the coveted trophy while their communities benefit
through the Goals4Goals campaign in partnership with the Sports Trust. For
every goal scored during this year’s tournament, Nedbank will donate R 10 000
towards the building of a R 1 million multi-purpose sport court for a school in
the country. . Last year, Sinamavu Primary School in KwaZulu Natal were the
lucky recipients of the sport facility which encourages and enables children to
excel in various sport codes.
PSL
CEO Brand de Villiers: “At the heart of Nedbank’s relationship with the PSL is
a genuine desire to create not only memories but also to give an opportunity to
amateur clubs to live their dreams and compete against top professional clubs.
This has laid a foundation for a sustainable legacy that will continue to
benefit generations. I’m confident 2013/14 Nedbank Cup will be a beautiful
spectacle and will continue to inspire and thrill South Africans.”
An
additional 100 schools across the country will receive soccer kits and training
equipment worth R 1 million. The top goal scorer in each round of the
tournament will win R10 000 for himself, plus R10 000 and a soccer kit for a
school of his choice anywhere in South Africa.
As
if that’s not enough, the award winning Nedbank Ke Yona Team Search – another
innovation introduced by Nedbank last year – will also make a comeback this
year. As witnessed in 2013, Nedbank will once again call on amateur soccer
players from all walks life to try out for the Nedbank Ke Yona team that will
eventually take on the 2014 Nedbank Cup winners and prove that with the right
support; anyone can be extraordinary.
“Nobody
else has come up with an initiative quite like this, so well done to Nedbank
for having the vision to make this happen. It is something that players from
all over the country look out for, because we know it is not easy to make it
into the professional ranks. I am sure after the game against Kaizer Chiefs
there will be guys who will get a contract in the PSL.” said Kyle Davies; left
back for 2013 Nedbank Ke Yona Team who, along with eight other players have
secured contracts with PSL teams.
Remaining
true to its core business and its goal of being a bank for all; the bank will
also continue to utilise the Nedbank Cup platform as a vehicle to further
connect with the consumers and to educate South Africans on various financial
matters.
