10 October 2013
Sasol will sponsor the South African Football Association’s (Safa’s) development agency to the tune of R3-million over the next three years, the petrochemicals giant announced on Wednesday.
“We are delighted that Sasol has become the first corporate partner in our bold vision to change football from the ground up,” Safa Development Agency CEO Robin Petersen said in a statement.
The agency is tasked with implementing Safa’s technical master plan, dubbed Vision 2022 by incoming Safa president Danny Jordaan. The plan aims to lift South Africa’s national football teams into the top three in Africa and the top 20 in the world by 2022.
It seeks to do this by developing a national playing philosophy, training and licensing thousands of coaches, identifying and developing talent from an early age, and organising structured competition at local football association (LFA) level.
Sasol’s sponsorship will be directed at the LFA level, focusing on two Safa regions – Gert Sibande in Mpumalanga and Fezile Dabi in the Free State – over a three-year period.
Sasol has been involved with the development of South African football for over 20 years, firstly with the national under-23 football team – dubbed “Amaglug-glug” thanks to Sasol’s sponsorship – and more recently with women’s football through Banyana Banyana and the Sasol League.
“Sasol’s approach to sustainable development depends on building strong and mutually beneficial relationships, and we are proud to be working with the football association and contributing to the master plan,” Sasol group executive Maurice Radebe said in a statement.
Jordaan said he had identified development as the key priority of the Safa administration, adding: “This sponsorship will inspire confidence in our Vision 2022 in the business sector, and will provide us with an important starting point for the implementation of our plan.”
SAinfo reporter and South African Football Association
