Petrol and chemicals company Sasol, in partnership with the South African Football Association (Safa), launched a football talent development programme in the Fezile Dabi district, at the Harry Gwala Sports Centre, in June.
This is the second leg of the partnership that impacts on the local football associations of Fezile Dabi, in the Free State, and Gert Sibande, in Mpumalanga. The first leg was launched in March in Secunda.
Sasol’s long-standing support for South African football development has inspired the company to become the first corporate sponsor of the Safa Development Agency (SDA).
The main objective of Safa’s 2022 Football Development Plan is to have all Safa national teams ranked consistently in the top three in Africa and top 20 in the world.
The plan has seven pillars to it, including the development of a national playing philosophy, the training and licensing of coaches, the identification and nurturing of talent from the earliest age, as well as organisation of structured competition at a local football association level.
“Sasol is excited about this initiative as it is an excellent example of our commitment to the communities in which we operate, in collaboration with other partners, such as the SDA,” says Sasol public and regulatory affairs VP Vusi Cwane.
“Our approach to sustainable development, as the success of Sasol’s Ikusasa community and infrastructure development programme demonstrates, depends on building strong and mutually beneficial relationships. We are therefore proud to be working with Safa to contribute to the development of football in our region,” he adds.
Provision is also made for staffing and operational costs, while growth and development of women’s football in the community will also be addressed.
Sasol has been involved with the development of football for over 20 years; firstly with the national under-23 football team ‘Amaglug-glug’ and, more recently, with women’s football in the form of the women’s national team, Sasol Banyana Banyana, and the women’s provincial football league, the Sasol League.
The Sasol-Safa football talent development programme further cements Sasol’s commitment to the development of football in the country.