Football to play it safe in Alex
ALEXANDRA – Cash-strapped soccer clubs receive a timely boost from the burden of buying PPEs to play it safe.
Alex football legend and philanthropist Sibusiso Cosmos Zwane has relieved the sleepless nights for the township’s cash-strapped soccer clubs that often find it difficult to buy the required Covid-19 safety protocol equipment.
Zwane donated 15 25-litre sanitisers and 45 temperature guns which were bought using funds donated by the City of Johannesburg to the Sibusiso Cosmos Zwane Foundation. The funds were intended for the annual SCZ Schools Tournament that was subsequently cancelled as a result of the outbreak of the Covid-19 global pandemic.
Speaking in an interview with Alex News, Zwane said the donation was made to try and strengthen local football, which he said was not only the backbone of the development and success of football in the country but also played a major role in the good upbringing of children.
“Local football helps shape our young and future stars of the beautiful game and also keeps them on the straight and narrow, considering the prevalent temptations on our streets such as crime, gambling and substance abuse that may sometimes appear attractive to idle children.
“Substance abuse, in particular among our children and the youth, has reached alarming proportions in our township and this is my five cents’ worth of contribution in the fight against drug abuse and other societal ills that seem to be getting rooted in our communities.
“I hope this donation goes a long way in the fight against the scourge and also encourages our children to turn to social amenities. We saw this kind of donation as a cause that would make a greater impact in our communities,” said Zwane, who played for Jomo Cosmos in his heydays.
Secretary-general of the Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association, Malvin Khumalo described the donation as timely in that amateur football had been granted the right to return to stadiums by South African Football Association after a recent second ban following the resurgence of Covid-19.
“Our clubs and children, particularly the juniors, haven’t kicked a ball for more than a year now but the good news is that they have been allowed to start training, with the leagues set to begin mid next month. The donation comes at a critical time [and] are much needed, not for the opening of the leagues, but under the resurgence of an even deadlier variant of the disease,” Khumalo said.
He added that he was particularly delighted by the fact that financially-strapped clubs would be able to comply with the Covid-19 football protocols.
“The association is extremely grateful to the Sibusiso Cosmos Zwane Foundation and its associates that made this possible. This donation will go a long way in ensuring that our footballers play in a safe environment. We are happy as the football community to be back on the fields of play.”
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