AFEX arrives in Jo’burg

THE fourth edition of African Football Executive Confex, AFEX, will take place in Johannesburg.

The event will take place at FNB Stadium on April 10 and 11.

The city has hosted the past two editions of this annual event focused on the development of the business of football in Africa. Countries represented at AFEX previously have included Argentina, Botswana, DRC, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Netherlands, Nigeria, Qatar, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Switzerland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, United Kingdom, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is the organiser’s expectation that the 2014 edition will rival previous performance in terms of programme quality and attendance.

Speakers at this year’s event include Connie Motshumi, Head, Stakeholder Relations and Communications at the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) who will be addressing the topic: Key Strategies to Improve the Image of Professional Football in Africa: A Perspective from the South African PSL. Football sponsorship, football in the community developments in Africa, sports branding, sports commercialisation, women’s football developments will be key topics at the event, which will take place at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.

Other speakers confirmed to speak at AFEX 2014 include Christopher Samuelson, Reading FC (England), Steve Bellis, KickWorldwide International, Hazel Chimhandamba, Standard Bank, Matthew Baxter of Liverpool FC and Stanley Matthews of SuperSport. Cavin Johnson, Coach and Manager, Supersport FC will also be present on the speaker panel. AFEX 2014 is supported by the City of Johannesburg and SuperSport.

Edward Abankwa, Programme Director of AFEX 2014 said, “Quality content and networking for attendees at AFEX is always paramount, and great speaker panel and quality networking among industry peers is guaranteed for the 2014 edition. We aim to continue on our mission to deliver value for the African sports and football community by providing a platform aimed at improving quality standards in the operation that transcends into success on the pitch.”

He continued, “If you are in a decision-making position at any football or sports organisation, AFEX is an absolutely invaluable program for finding out what is going on in the industry, making important connections and learning what your peers are doing to keep ahead of the game.”