Mashabela’s plan to create employment

When local businessperson, Mapurunyane Mashabela earlier this year established Berachah Valley Football Club in Mafefe outside Lebowakgomo his aim was to to curb poverty and fight widespread unemployment in the area.
Mashabela, 36, and a practicing lawyer, has employed 35 personnel from Mafefe village and surrounds.
The club will campaign in the 2018/19 Limpopo’s South African Football Association’s ABC Motsepe League which commences in September.
Mashabela intends for the club to serve as a vehicle through which local players will have access to showcase their talents and advance their careers. “I grew up in Mafefe and I have noticed that our community has many talented and hard-working soccer players, but they did not have an opportunity to show their talents as it would have been difficult if not impossible to access resources for them and be seen by talent scouts who would historically only go to towns and townships to look for soccer talent. Besides, historically, Mafefe has never had a soccer club that participates in the ABC Motsepe league. The people of Mafefe, Mathabatha and the surrounding areas in the Lepelle-Nkumpi municipality have been thirsty for far too long. That thirst has just been quenched,” Mashabela said.
He explained that local businesses and enterprises will benefit from the club as most teams in the league will travel to Mafefe Sports Complex over weekends for fixtures against the club. “Informal businesses and street vendors will benefit immensely when the soccer matches are being played here. It will advance local economic stimulation and access to casual employment opportunities.”
He stressed that one of the club’s immediate objectives was to be promoted to the National First Division and subsequently to the Premier Soccer League.
“We have a long-term plan to open an academy under the auspices of the club and this will ensure formal and properly structured football education within the Club. We have put structures in place to make sure that we participate and compete effectively, people have done it and we can do it as well.
With the right people with the right mentality around, we can do it I am quite positive about it,” Mashabela remarked.

Story and photo: Herbert Rachuene
>>herbert.observer@gmail.com