The 2013 Spur Masidlale soccer and life skills training programme is in full swing with regional launch day events hosted around the country to mobilise 1600 during a fun-filled day of soccer and life skill training in Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg.
The huge success achieved by the Spur Masidlale programme – which has already touched the lives of more than 30 000 children, developed and groomed more than 700 coaches and visited more than 100 stadia in South Africa since its launch in 2005, reinforces the conviction of the great philosopher Plato, who said that “The moral value of exercise and sports far outweigh the physical value”.
To ensure that coaches were well-equipped to unlock the full potential of the programme, Spur Group invested in a series of national Masidlale Coaching Clinics around the country as a run-up to the regional launch day events. Soccer personalities in each region have also pledged their support to the programme and learners had the opportunity to play ball with the likes of Patrick Mayo, Matthew Booth, Helman Mkhelele and Dillan Sheppard respectively at the Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg launch events.
Teachers, local coaches and players are ready for the nine-week series during which the under 13 boys’ and girls’ teams from the ten competing schools in each region will give it their best to add points to the log and secure a place in the finals in June. Each team will comprise seven players with three substitutes. Three points will be awarded for a win and two points for a draw, while a loss receives zero points.
According to Khakhi Diala of the Spur Group, they are extremely excited about the upcoming season. “We definitely started from humble beginnings, with 12 one-day coaching clinics in 2005, but the league has grown steadily and has highlighted the huge need for initiatives that provide a platform for youth development. We hosted the first pilot league in Sandton in 2009, and are now running four leagues in key urban areas across South Africa,” says Diala.
Diala further emphasised that the most rewarding aspect of this sponsorship, was the opportunity to change lives. “Soccer is just the tool we’re using. Our goal is to empower both the coaches and the kids with important life-skills to equip them to continue being role models in their communities long after the Spur Masidlale league comes to a close,” states Diala.
The life skills training for the coaches was facilitated by Macsteel Maestros Life Skills and specifically targeted areas that will increase players’ self-confidence and self-esteem, while promoting positive behavioural shifts. This will enable players to cope better with matters at home, in their football life, and equip them with better decision-making skills.
Each participant received a brand new Spur-branded Umbro kit at the launch day events to keep and cherish (for many of the participants, this is the first kit they have ever owned). The winning team in each region can look forward to a special VIP PSL experience. Not only will they be treated to a special Spur lunch, but they will also attend a PSL game as team mascots.
Schools are rotated on an annual basis to ensure that as many children as possible can benefit from the life-enriching Spur Masidlale programme.
The Port Elizabeth schools that have been selected for the 2013 series at the NU2 Stadium in Motherwell are:
- Vukanibantu
- Khulile
- Elufefeni
- Canzibe
- Nxanelwinfundo
- Vezubuhle
- Mdengentonga
- Empumalanga
- Melisizwe and
- Siyaphambili Primary.
Alan Straton
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