Barely two weeks before the start of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, soccer stars of a different kind will take to the field in a SAPREF-sponsored football tournament that has brought together 700 learners from 48 schools in South Durban.
The tournament on May 28 is the culmination of a five-year schools’ soccer project which was initiated by the SAPREF Community Liaision Forum (CLF) in 2005. “The aim of the project was to create excitement for the 2010 World Cup and get the learners involved in a healthy lifestyle,” says Sammy Sayed, co-ordinator of the tournament on behalf of the SAPREF CLF.
The initiative was first conceptualised when South Africa was confirmed as the host of the 2010 Soccer World Cup. It was meant to run for the period leading up to the World Cup, culminating in a final tournament just before the big one. The programme provided out-of-school coaching assistance to learners and training of youth as coaches. Every year since 2005 primary schools from the area have come together to participate in a tournament. Unsurprisingly, this year’s one is the largest with 48 schools and 700 children from the Bluff, Wentworth, Merebank, Isipingo, Lamontville and Umlazi participating.
The round robin series of the tournament has been completed and 16 teams will go head-to-head in the finals to be played at Badulla Drive Grounds in Merebank on May 28.
Every team participating will receive a full soccer kit and each player will receive a medal. The winning school will receive a floating shield and special awards will be made to the player of the tournament, goal keeper of the tournament and highest goal scorer.
Since inception of the programme SAPREF has invested about R500 000 in the initiative. Said Lindiwe Khuzwayo, SAPREF’s Sustainable Development Manager: “It is our hope that the children who have been part of this tournament will continue to love sport, to be active and to use their talent for the beautiful game.”
For more information contact:
Lindiwe Khuzwayo
Sustainable Development Manager
SAPREF
Telephone : 031 480 1750 / 082 883 6329
khuzwal@sapref.com