The
South African Breweries (SAB) and South African Football Association (SAFA)
today marked an extension of their relationship to build further onto work to
develop football at grassroots level in South Africa.
The
agreement, finalised in the run-up to the SAB League National Championships
taking place from 9 th to 13 July in Stellenbosch, is an extension and
recommitment of SAB’s involvement in grassroots football development spanning
13 years as the title sponsor of SAFA’s most senior and largest development
third division league, the SAB League.
“
SAB’s investment in football at grassroots level is entrenched in its
conviction that socio-economic change can be brought to SA’s communities in
this way. Football has a proven track record of playing a role in bringing
positive change to people’s lives and to communities.
“Grassroots
football development is also critical in securing a sustainable and strong
future for South African football and SAB feels privileged to have the
opportunity to work with SAFA in making a real difference at this level and to
recommit to bringing social and economic change,” says Dr Vincent Maphai, SAB
Executive Director Corporate Affairs and Transformation .
SAFA
President, Kirsten Nematandani said SAB played a key role in the development of
the game at grassroots level and this year’s launch coincides with SAFA having
recently launched the under 13 and 15 leagues for both boys and girls. The
leagues are the cornerstone of SAFA’s Technical Master Plan whose core
objective is to aggressively drive the football developmental agenda
countrywide.
“SAB
is a true friend of football development and the extension of our (SAFA and
SAB) relationship is good news for our youth because apart from fitting in well
with our Technical Master Plan, this acquaintance will expedite grassroots
football development across the country,” said the SAFA President.
“Our
2020 Vision is to have a Bafana Bafana side that is consistently among the top
3 in Africa and 20 in the world. If we push this agenda aggressively, this goal
can easily be realised.”
Entrenching
SAB’s commitment to grassroots football development in South Africa, the
company introduced the new look of the SAB League, first known as the Castle
League at the start of SAB’s involvement in 2000 and more recently as the SAB
U21 Regional League.
Other
than a new look and new name, the SAB League includes a Youth Diversion
component in partnership with local NGO, Footballers4Life. The programme, which
educates SAB League players participating in the SAB League National
Championships in critical life skills, is facilitated by former local
footballers.
Amongst
others, the Youth Diversion Programme focuses on fulfilling players sporting
potential, helping them to manage well-balanced and empowered lives and
refraining from risky behavior, particularly irresponsible alcohol use. The
objective is for them to become powerful influences amongst their peer and in
their communities as agents of social changes and positive role models.
Skills
transferred to the players during the two-day workshop, include computer skills
(CV writing, financial management), insight into non-administrative football
careers (physiotherapy, fitness training, sports psychology) and administrative
careers (public relations, management) and an introduction to the Learners
License course.
“We
hope that the Youth Diversion Programme will offer players the opportunity to
start each of them on a journey to becoming powerful influences amongst their
peers and in their communities as agents of social changes and positive role
models,” says Dr Maphai.
- SAFA
