The launch of the Bay Stars Football Club, an innovative approach to building soccer in Nelson Mandela Bay, represents a new dawn for youngsters aspiring to play in the top South African leagues.
This comes after soccer had to take a backseat in Nelson Mandela Bay even after top international superstars like Christiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogba, Wayne Rooney and many others campaigned for glory during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa in the city.
To top it all, Bay United left Nelson Mandela Bay for Limpopo leaving behind little prospects of a major soccer team for the area.
Tony Lovegrove, Managing Director of Bay Stars, said the club will comfortably fill this gap and tremendous effort was put into a selection process over two months.
“The team consists of the best local talent, taken from all the soccer structures in Nelson Mandela Bay and informal township soccer players who have over the last two months competed for a place in the team.
“A squad of 25 has been selected from this pool. This team doesn’t just offer youngsters a start in sport it also offered student bursaries to players to study at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.
“Bay Stars also has a professional scout who constantly visits games in and around Nelson Mandela Bay for talent,” he added.
Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor Zanoxolo Wayile said the launch of Bay Stars will lay a solid foundation towards uniting residents and goes a long way towards the realization of Nelson Mandela’s vision of promoting peace and unity through sport.
“Together with Bay Stars Management, we are beginning a long journey towards re-positioning the Metro as the future global and continental soccer city.
“I am very happy to declare that the municipality pride herself for being associated with the Bay Stars, our home grown soccer team. As the Metro, we have developed working relations in the form of the memorandum of understanding with Bay Stars. I am sure and positive that the memorandum of understanding between the municipality and Bay Stars will produce future soccer stars and international soccer legends.
“I am looking forward to mutually beneficial working relations between the municipality and Bay Stars. As a caring municipality, we are convinced that your success is our success and you will make us proud,” Mayor Wayile added.
The players are coached by professional coaching staff, including a life skills coach who will work towards equipping players with the knowledge of life skills.
Furthermore the Bay Stars brand has also embraced Beach Soccer that will see football activities at the beachfront increase dramatically with developing soccer teams, corporate and formal soccer teams participating. This will be launched as part of the 2011 Nelson Mandela Bay summer season programme.
Bay Stars’ first match in the Vodacom League will be on 1 October against Bush Bucks.
Alan Straton
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Are they playing in PE?