North-West University Vaal Triangle Campus - Kaizer
Chiefs Football Club and the North-West University (NWU) have officially
entered into a partnership to construct the “Kaizer Chiefs Centre of
Innovation” on the NWU Vaal Triangle Campus, situated in Vanderbijlpark,
Gauteng. This pioneering initiative is a
first for both sport and higher education in the country and will see the
establishment of a multi-purpose, Kaizer Chiefs dedicated walk-in centre on the
Vaal campus of one of South Africa’s leading and largest educational
institutions.
Two prolific
organisations
The partnership between Kaizer Chiefs and the NWU
signifies two powerful South African brands coming together for the creation of
synergy. Kaizer Chiefs is widely
considered one of the continent’s largest sport brands with a supporters-base
of more than 16 million people and a rich legacy of achievement – on and off
the field of play. In an illustrious
history spanning more than 40 years, the club has been the most successful
football team in South Africa – claiming more than 80 league and or club
titles. Kaizer Chiefs is also currently
the Absa Premiership and Nedbank Cup champions.
The NWU is one of South Africa’s largest universities with a student
number in excess of 65 000; and has for the last six years running been awarded
the prestigious PricewaterhouseCoopers award for the country’s best governed
university. Comprising of three campuses
(Potchefstroom, Mafikeng and Vaal), it is internationally known as a preferred
sports training venue.
The university hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup football
winners Spain at its High Performance Institute; and 19 London 2012 Olympic
Games medals was produced by international athletes who trained at this
facility in Potchefstroom. The NWU Vaal
Triangle Campus, where the Kaizer Chiefs Innovation Centre is to be based at,
is situated on a picturesque nature reserve and is considered the Vaal region’s
business and information technology knowledge hub. The executives of the two organisations
articulated their enthusiasm for the partnership. Mr. Kaizer Motaung, executive chairman of
Kaizer Chiefs, commented: It is a milestone in the history of Kaizer Chiefs
coming together to team up with the institution of this magnitude, North West
University in pursuance of a very noble exercise in terms of empowerment of
sports people. The launch of the Innovation Centre will
be instrumental in getting us glued to the communities especially in this area
that has a very rich history of football. In the 60s, 70s and 80s the Vaal area
has produced lots of footballers.
The partnership will benefit the broader community. It is
about empowerment of sports people and the community at large. This is also
part of the expansion process that we have embarked upon. These sentiments were shared by Dr Theuns
Ellof, vice-chancellor of the NWU: “From the NWU’s perspective as a higher education
institution with a track record of education and training as well as
development and research in sport, initiatives like these give meaning to our
vision”.
The Kaizer Chiefs Centre of Innovation
Ms. Jessica
Motaung, Marketing Director of Kaizer Chiefs, summed up the vision of the
Kaizer Chiefs Centre of Innovation: We are excited with the launch of this
relationship. The relationship augers well in terms of expanding the Kaizer
Chiefs brand. Bringing the two institutions, North West University and Kaizer
Chiefs, will allow us to grow the brand. The Innovation Centre will act as an
interface between us and our fan base in both the university students and the
Amakhosi supporters in the surrounding Sedibeng region. We believe that the
Innovation Centre will add value in terms of our community engagements.
The Kaizer
Chiefs Centre of Innovation will be a multi purpose facility that is to be
constructed on the NWU Vaal Campus, comprising the following main elements:
Brand- and Retail Hub
Walk-in centre
with modern and digital properties where students, supporters and the local
community can enjoy a front to end “Kaizer Chiefs Experience”. Decorated in
history and memorobilia of the brand, the above mentioned stakeholders will be
able to enjoy fun activities in the centre and purchase product from the wide
range of Kaizer Chiefs merchandise offerings.
Research Hub
Scientific
research and development centre where NWU academics and - post graduate students
can work on strategic projects identified jointly by the two brands within the
sport, sport management and
South African
football arena.
Training Hub
Empowerment
centre through training and development of various stakeholders such as local
Kaizer Chiefs supporters branches, the Kaizer Chiefs Youth Development Academy
staff and organisations involved in local community engagement initiatives.
Part of a broader vision
The Kaizer
Chiefs Centre of Innovation solidifies the relationship between Kaizer Chiefs
and the NWU. The two parties have been
working closely together in conceptualising and planning for the Kaizer Chiefs
Youth Development Academy over the course of the last year. The establishment of a leading youth
development academy has long been a vision of the chairman, Mr. Kaizer
Motaung. Thus, engagement with the NWU
to act as an expert and advisory consultant to this planning process has been
testament to the university’s research and knowledge generation
capabilities. Prof. Thanyani Mariba,
rector of the NWU Vaal Triangle Campus, emphasized this: “The NWU
prides itself on being a powerhouse of academic excellence and through this
partnership – and more so the Kaizer Chiefs Centre of Innovation, the Campus
will continue to act as a proud enabler of future success and ultimately,
significance. As an institution of higher learning we believe that it is not
just about educating and moulding young minds but also about creating prospects
that will contribute to the bettering of the country and the improvement of the
quality of life for all”.
