Alex Girls Football Development lauded

Afrika Tikkun has welcomed the synergy displayed by Alex NPOs in working together for the common good of humanity in the township.

This was espoused by Afrika Tikkun’s Malvin Khumalo, who is also the secretary-general of the Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association, when he addressed participants of the Alex Girls Football Development coaching clinics at Altrek Sports facility on 30 March.

The project is an initiative of one of Alexandra’s finest female footballers, Simphiwe ‘Shorty’ Dludlu and her foundation, along with her partners Mavu Sports Development, Afrika Tikkun, Alexandra Northrand LFA and Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation.

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“I am delighted to see this kind of synergy of forging working relationships among our township NPOs for the good of humanity. This project aligns and resonates with our objectives as Afrika Tikkun and hence we never hesitated to join when the call came,” said Khumalo.

Dludlu is an ambassador of sports betting company, Betway and a former Banyana Banyana skipper and now coach of Bantwana, which is the U17 national women’s team. She is a born and bred daughter of the Alex soil.

Khumalo said when young girls in the township saw how successful Dludlu had been, they would also be encouraged to emulate her. “If one of their own from their neck of the woods in Alex has made it, they too will feel it’s doable.”

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Banyana captain and goal minder Andile Dlamini said the development of young girls in football meant a lot to her. “I am from the same background as my Alex sisters, having grown up in Thembisa. I know what it’s like out there for them and urge them to take this opportunity with both hands,” she added.

Mavu founder and CEO Kenneth Neluvhalani said his synergy with Dludlu dated back to their university days at the University of Pretoria. “We used to share our dreams as students and when I founded this sports development company, the first person that came to mind was her.

“I decided to avail Mavu’s financial resources to help her [Dludlu] reach her goals, which in part were to give back to the development of girls in women’s football. As Mavu, we’re committed to ensure you achieve your legacy. Your success can never be complete and meaningful unless you have a track record of having ploughed back for the development of others,” he added.

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Mpotseng Moloi, acting director of sports compliance directorate of the Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation urged Dludlu to ensure the sustainability of Alex Girls Football Development.

“The project is nice to have but let’s strive to ensure that it is sustainable so as to achieve maximum results. We should be able to brag down the line about the fruits born out of the project and then beat our chests to say it was successful,” Moloi said.

Deputy President of the Alex Northrand LFA, Venita Masisi said part of the broader objectives of the girls soccer project was to prevent early teenage pregnancies, substance abuses, alcohol abuse and the resultant dropouts from school.

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“We want soccer to be a catalyst in preventing all the social ills that bedevil our young girls and thereby open up opportunities for them to make the world their oyster,” Masisi concluded.