Boost for grassroots football talent

Nie Cele

South African Breweries (SAB) is serious-minded about providing a platform for the identification of the country’s finest grassroots football talent.

This was evident recently when the beer company officially rolled out the ceremonial handing over of SAB League 2017/18 football technical training kit to respective clubs in Newtown, Johannesburg.

According to them, this is one of the technical kit handover that will see the SAB and South African Football Association (SAFA) embark on a national roadshow to magnify the fundamentals and importance of training at grassroots level in local football.

The technical kits, consists of soccer balls, training cones, whistles and stopwatches are deemed as an aid of assisting the multitudes  of SAB League teams across the country in their preparations ahead of the next season.

KalashniNarainsamy, SAB Better World  Project Manager is on record saying the League has been running for 17 years .

“It is always such an honour for us to partake in activities that place importance on the fundamentals of football training as a whole.

With this handover SAB seeks to provide the lower league teams with similar equipment and tools as with Premier League teams. One should never underestimate the importance of training equipment in that it truly forms an important part of the foundations of grassroots development, which is something that SAB has always been passionate about,” she said.

Narainsamy also stressed that her organization do not only want to uplift teams within various communities ,‘but where it matters most with resources.’

This was further highlighted by SAFA Technical Director, Neil Tovey, “Lack of knowledge and equipment in football can negatively influence the development of sport. We encourage programmes such as these as they are ideal for growth at lower football levels to take place, communities in and around the country need sponsored resources. What SAB is doing, particularly as a company within the private sector speaks volumes to how they foresee the future of football. It all starts with the equipment, “ Tovey said.

SAFA CEO, Dennis Mumble thanked SAB for sticking with football.

“This is a very key year for Safa. The game is on the venge of change and improvement.”

Thabo Senong, BafanaBafana Assistant coach said, “Without equipment, its difficult to train these boys.”

TumeloNdaba, Winning coach of the previous season, said, “With SAB coming on board, Its going to be easy for coaches to teach fundamentals of football.”

On the sidelines, NirishiTrikamjee, of SAB told this publication  that the event was about a proudly South African company growing football talent in the country.

Did you know?

Players such as former Orlando Pirates striker PhumudzoManenzhe , current Supersport United midfielder ReneilweLetsholonyane and Orlando Pirates defender Happy Jele are some of the players who have come through the SAB League ranks.