AFRISAM TAKES LEADING ROLE IN SAFA’S YOUTH SOCCER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM – IMA NATHI

Msunduzi- Leading construction materials group, AfriSam, kicked-off its second AfriSam Ima Nathi Soccer Development Program in association with the South African Football Association (SAFA) and Msunduzi Local Football Association on the 22nd of October.

To celebrate the launch of the program, local community members were invited to a celebrity-filled opening game at the Northdale stadium between AfriSam employees and a local SAFA team, each team supplemented with legends such as as Mbulelo “Old John” Mabizela, Sandile “AK47” Ndlovu,Dumisani “Makhokhoba” Ngwenya, Andile “Sguta” Cele.

Ima Nathi is a SAFA coaching program, implemented by the SAFA regions at Local Football Associations (LFAs) across the country. The focus of the program is to train coaches to develop players – boys and girls - from the ages six to 18 years.

“AfriSam is proud to join as a sponsor of the Ima Nathi program that will provide the foundation of tomorrow’s skilled South African footballers – together building our nation’s football skills from thegrass-roots level up”, commented AfriSam CEO, Rob Wessels.

With AfriSam’s Construction Materials plants operating in the same community as the Msunduzi LFA, it was a natural choice for AfriSam to provide its support to this specific LFA.

AfriSam’s 3-year sponsorship makes provision for the following critical aspects as part of the Ima Nathi program:

• Coaches: all costs associated with the up-skilling of coaches including the various courses to obtain B, C and D-level licences, coaching course educational material and on-field equipment. Skilled coaches will mean better skilled players, which in turn will create biggeropportunities for the Msunduzi players.
• Players: In addition to obtaining technical football knowledge and skills, all players in the Msunduzi LFA will undergo a valuable life-skills program.
• c) Kit: sponsorship of all Msunduzi LFA football player jerseys.

The AfriSam Ima Nathi programme will provide coaches from the Msunduzi LFA with the necessary skills and knowledge to train local football teams. These coaches will in turn train the area’s young, aspirant footballers; keeping them off the streets. While training, players will learn invaluable skills such as leadership, hard work, self-discipline and social skills.

“One of AfriSam’s corporate social responsibility focus areas is youth development. We are excited to, once again, join hands with the local community to create a positive future for our youth and what better way to achieve this than through the passionate sport of football. We look forward to the many future national football team players that will come from the Msunduzi Local Football Association. In the spirit if Ima Nathi we say: stand with us, play your part, get involved”, concludes Wessels.

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ABOUT AFRISAM’S CSR PROGRAMME:

AfriSam has a long history of making a sustainable difference in the communities where it operates.Most recently AfriSam constructed the Nkanyezini Health Post which provides over 8 000 community members with access to vital health care services. Other upliftment projects include the construction of the Honeyville Community Hall and uMsilinga Primary School Hall as well as the renovation of the computer centre and science laboratory at Panorama Primary school.

AfriSam also provides training and development to qualifying enterprises to grow and strengthen their businesses to a level where they can trade with AfriSam and other companies in the area, in turn transferring skills to local community members and creating employment for the youth.

This Press Release was published by Archy Hlahla, Hlengani Communications on behalf of AfriSam.