Total South Africa launches African Sports Talent Initiative in Limpopo
The Total group is partnering with 32 schools across the country, to ignite football talent and nurture the soccer culture.
LIMPOPO – Total South Africa recently launched the African Sports Talent Initiative in Limpopo, at Soutpansberg Primary School in Louis Trichardt.
The Total group is partnering with 32 schools across the country, to ignite football talent and nurture the soccer culture.
According to Pierre-Yves Sachet, Total South Africa’s CEO and managing director, the group is a proud sponsor of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the title sponsor for the Total Africa Cup of Nations 2019 which will kick off on Friday, June 21 in Egypt.
Total signed a partnership agreement with CAF in 2016, making them the official title sponsor of African football for eight years.
Total became the title sponsor of 10 competitions – three inter-club and seven national.
Sachet said this new concept would make provision for 14 boys and 14 girls in each grade to play a soccer game and stand a chance to be selected as the top boy and girl player of their grade.
The top players will then participate in skills-based soccer activities for a talent scout to select the best players from each school. The winners of each school will be entered into a lucky draw to win tickets to attend one of Bafana Bafana’s games in Egypt.
He addressed issues such as running a grassroots programme, scouting for talent, the training of elite squads and maximising the use of equipment and facilities. “Coaches were tasked with rolling out a variety of football development- and life-skills initiatives. The coaches’ first objective will be to develop squads for both boys and girls,” says Sachet.
“Our investment into the sport’s facilities aligns with the national agenda of developing school sport across all provinces, with the aim of integrating it into the school’s learning system. These type of initiatives also create platforms for football development and talent identification for our youth. This new infrastructure stands as a symbol of development for disadvantaged communities,” continued Sachet.
The Acting Principal of Soutpansberg Primary School, Muravha Nyambeni, said the development of the youth was a continuous battle.
“With the support of sponsors like Total, we are able to take greater steps in the right direction and offer our up-and-coming sportsmen and women not only the support they need on the pitch, but also the guidance and mentorship in other aspects of their lives,” he said.
Local coach, Gwasda Nedzamba, described the Total group as “a selfless and caring company”. He said it was painful to see that most businesspeople were not ploughing back into the community. Gwasda added that most of the soccer stars of yesterday, were now penniless and some have even taken up ordinary jobs after a life of glory.
“I have come to realise that a soccer career is very short and that many have hit hard times, after being in the limelight and leading a life of glamour. With education, one is secure for life and has something to fall back on when days are dark on the soccer field,” he concluded.
