LOCAL FOOTBALL development and building champions is at the heart of the Shield Sbonis’iDiski campaign.

Shield Sbonis’iDiski campaign second edition was launched in Jozi on a wet Thursday. Representatives from the Chelsea, Pirates and Shield were on hand to shower the success of the second installment.

In 2017, 500 hopefuls from across the country put their football skills to the test with the hope of winning the ultimate prize: the chance to train at Chelsea Football Club’s world class training facility in Cobham.

In a weekly nail-biting knockout rounds (a training programme developed by Chelsea F.C.), Chelsea F. C. Development Coaches and Siphiwe Mkhonza selected the 25 best performing athletes from the regional trials, with only the top 3 performing players winning a once in a lifetime opportunity to train at Chelsea F.C.

Building on the successes of last year, Shield, is continuing its commitment to empower South African football talent. Year two will see Shield continue the partnership with Chelsea F.C., while also introducing a brand-new partnership with Orlando Pirates Football Club.

Together, the champion brands will drive football development in South Africa.

Orlando Pirates will offer their expert coaches who will help train and develop raw football talent across the country and give one hard-working player the chance to realise his dream by signing a one-year professional contract with the Orlando Pirates Development team, giving this deserving athlete the chance to become a champion.

The partnership with Orlando Pirates comes as a new layer for Shield, bringing football development back home to South Africa and deepens Shield’s commitment to football development in the country.

The Buccaneers have historically played a huge role in local football development and continue to do so through their training programmes and their youth development team. Joining Shield, they will bring their expert training programme and coaches to the field in national campaign try outs, whilst scouting for the one champion player to be part of their development team.

In 2018 Shield is widening the goal posts on its commitment to unearth even more great homegrown talent and provide grass roots football development across the country. The three champion brands: Shield, Chelsea and Orlando Pirate have come together in the second year of the campaign to inspire South Africans to move with purpose and continue developing championship winning talent.

“Partnering with Orlando Pirates is a natural progression for year two of the campaign thanks to the Club’s passion around football development in South Africa,” said Gareth Marshal, Senior Brand Manager – Shield South Africa. “This partnership will inspire young, South Africans who understand that achieving success requires hard work, practice, and dedication to reach for their dreams and achieve that one-year development contract with the Buccaneers.”

Orlando Pirates is one of South Africa’s biggest professional sports clubs and is a home to top football players like Mthokozisi Dube, Lyle Foster, and Luvuyo Memela, who are exceptional players dedicated to hard work and commitment.

“Orlando Pirates has always been dedicated to unearthing the best talent in South Africa, through our own extensive recruitment network and the programmes and initiatives that we run internally through the Club’s youth systems,” said Tokoloho Moeketsi, Brand Activation Manager at Orlando Pirates.

“We’re excited to extend our development program and give more opportunities to aspiring players nationwide, while inspiring talent through hard work and determination and giving them skills – both on and off the field.”

Shield understands that winning requires that you get up and get moving and continue to push yourself to tap into the hidden champion within you, fight against all odds to better your life. At the core of this campaign is to harnesses the passion for football and test what it means to be a champion, in the same way the Shield product ranks as a leader in everyday deodorant protection.

Players will be selected from the regional trials to attend the finals week, where three players will be chosen to travel to London and train with Chelsea F.C., with an all-expenses paid for trip. Once these three players return from London, one of three football star talents will be given a one-year development contract with Orlando Pirates – going under their guidance to continue a career in football.

The nationwide competition is open to all South Africans and initial regional trials will take place in five regions; Johannesburg, Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth and Durban.

To enter, consumers can purchase any Shield product and redeem by calling *120*744353# for a chance to win.

For more information on dates and times and other key information to join the try outs, visit www.shield.co.za.

Competition runs from 20^th February to 30 April 2017.

SOURCED FROM www.sowetolifemag.co.za