"Our football tournament is very much about the development of young football players for our country and also the development of great young men and great South Africans for our communities. It is our hope and intention to work with young people through the vehicle of sport to achieve this. By keeping their bodies and minds active and healthy, we are sure they can achieve great things and make responsible choices," said Shanda Paine, group CSI manager of the Tsogo Sun.
Hundreds of primary school learners and their coaches from the Swaneville, Munsieville and Kagiso areas on Joburg's West Rand competed. This year all teams received complete new football kits, which included numbered shirts, shorts, goalkeeper shirts, socks, boots, shin pads, coach shirts, kit bags, water bottles, player cards for the league, whistles, balls and ball pumps.
The SunCares Sports Academy football programme consists of weekly training, six months of inter-school league fixtures, annual tournaments and talent identification. Through this initiative, life skills are also developed along with education on healthy life choices.
"We will be hosting our first 'Coaching the Coaches' accreditation programme during the March school holidays. The school coaches will be completing the SAFA Introductory Course. Our intention is to ensure that our coaches are developed as well as our players. It is also in line with the SAFA and Department of Sport and Recreation mandates to increase the number of accredited grass roots and school-level coaches," said Paine.
The SunCares Sports Academy football programme is a collaboration between Silverstar Casino, the Gauteng Department of Education, the Department of Sport and Recreation, South African Football Association, South African Schools Football Association and Mogale City. "We work very closely with all role players and members of the community for the benefit of the young people," added Paine.
