South African Breweries (SAB), in partnership with African football legend Samuel Eto’o and Fives Futbol, is ensuring that the development of South African football does not take a back seat during these difficult times, with the official unveiling of a life-changing Legacy Pitch in Cape Town on Thursday, 29 July.
Sport in many parts of the world has unfortunately been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic over the past year and a half. Therefore, SAB has joined forces with the legendary Eto’o and Fives Futbol, not only to invest in the stars of tomorrow but to uplift the community in the Mother City.
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak and strict regulations of gatherings imposed in South Africa, the Legacy Pitch was officially unveiled in an impactful manner whilst adhering to the various regulations and restrictions set out by the country’s government. There are two artificial pitches that were unveiled and Eto’o was in attendance to witness the opening of a facility that will go a long way in changing the lives of many boys and girls in the Mother City.
Just as the name suggests, the Legacy Pitch will leave a lasting legacy by helping to create the stars of tomorrow who can develop their talent and skills through the use of a state-of-the-art facility. The Legacy Pitch will provide a new facility for not only a vast array of community teams and schools, but will additionally be available for wider community use on a daily basis. The objective is to provide NGOs, specifically those working with children, an opportunity to have access to the facility, where they can have events such as football clinics and camps.
The pitch will promote constant activity in the area for the youth, whilst improving wellbeing levels in the area. The lighting around the two five-a-side pitches means that the facility can be used in the evening. There are plans, in future, to add two more pitches to the site, as well as an indoor action cricket facility.
“As a brand, supporting the communities which support us is intrinsic to who we are. The Western Cape forms an important part of one of those communities and faces a number of socio-economic challenges. The launch of this pitch will provide the youth within the area an avenue to positively channel their energy and passion. This project is a wonderful example of how sport can help build bridges and bring communities together. For the young people within the areas this pitch will provide a space of joy, hope and meaningful interaction’ says SAB Brand Director Corporate Sphe Vundla
“This will serve as a sports hub in the local area in the future and Five Futbol, one of our partners, will maintain it. When we started the journey with Africa 5s, one of the things Samuel was sold on was the importance of giving back to the community. As an organisation, we undertook to support that dream through the Legacy Pitches. We looked at opportunities in areas and within the Western Cape which were identified in terms of growth and opportunity.” added Vundla
In honour of the great Eto’o, the Legacy Pitch will be named the Eto’o by Fives Legacy Pitch. The former captain of the Cameroonian national team is passionate about giving back to communities and the development of young stars on the African continent. From humble beginnings in Cameroon, Eto’o is widely regarded as Africa’s best and most successful player in history, with more than 10 major titles to his name.
As someone who knows what it takes to succeed in the beautiful game of football, he is well aware of the importance of having a proper facility to develop the skills of young individuals who are aspiring to become stars at the highest level in the future. This is exactly what the Legacy Pitch will provide for the youth in Cape Town, with plans to ensure that the facility is always well-maintained by partners Fives Futbol.
Eto’o is no stranger to the South African Breweries family. He joined forces with the brand in 2018 and, together, formed part of the team which launched Africa 5s – a five-a-side football competition which took the continent by storm. Africa 5s is a continental social football league that launched with five countries in 2018 and has since expanded to eight countries, with the inclusion of women’s teams.
Through the Africa 5s competition, five-a-side football has grown around the continent, with more people showing an interest in it. The relationship with Eto’o has gone beyond just football, with the aim being to nurture and develop talent for the future, while also giving back.
“Giving back is something that has always been close to my heart. To have this opportunity to unveil the Legacy Pitch is such an honour for me because I know how much lives it will touch. It will uplift the community and help develop stars that we want to see dominating the world in future. I feel so honoured that the Legacy Pitch will be named after me. I hope the community of Cape Town will benefit from the Legacy Pitch,” Eto’o said.
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