Sasol donates gear to soccer academy

The sponsorship forms part of Sasol’s Friendly Neighbour initiative, which encourages its retail fuel outlets to give back to the communities they operate in. In a bid to empower young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, Jacoba Football Academy received a new soccer kit and tracksuits among other items.

The academy is made up of young soccer players from disadvantaged backgrounds. It is home to about 180 aspiring players, between the ages of six to 25. The academy also has a teaching programme and a feeding scheme for the players.

One of the coaches, Dimirti Athanasopoulos, said the academy had made big strides since it was launched. He thanked Sasol for their contribution towards their development.

Corporate affairs general manager at Sasol Oil, Zolile Ntukwana, said they had seen a clip on TV of the team playing on a small patch and in the background noticed the Sasol filling station. After identifying the filling station, “We realised they [the soccer academy] didn’t have the resources that are needed,” he said.

“This is what we are all about – making sustainable contributions that will lead to further developments.”

Ntukwana also encouraged the players to stay focused through discipline. “If you take that discipline into the education arena and into your life, you can achieve a lot,” he said.

Hennie Groenewald and Genaro Bonafade of Sasol Racing were also present to share words of encouragement with the players.