School football to benefit from sponsorship

MBOMBELA – In November 24 2015, the Motsepe Foundation announced a sponsorship amounting to R117,5 million over 10 years for the development of schools football, choral and traditional music. The foundation partnered with the Department of Basic Education to make this a reality.

The two have since launched the 10 years sponsorship agreement.  This initiative is also supported by the Department of Sports and Recreation, as well as the Department of Arts and Culture.

During the first five years of the sponsorship, an amount of R55 million will be allocated to the Kay Motsepe Schools Football Cup, the ABC Motsepe Eisteddfod, Choral and Traditional Music and the Kay Motsepe Schools Netball Cup. Between 2012 and 2025 the Motsepe Foundation will also contribute another R62, 5 million.

All the 25 000 public and private schools in South Africa, from the rural and urban areas have been invited to participate in all three competitions.

The Kay Motsepe Schools Football Cup has been in operation for the last 10 years and is regarded as having the largest prize money in the world for schools football; with the winning school receiving one million rand from a total annual prize money of three-point four million rand.  The school that comes second receives prize money of R600 000 and the school the finishes in third place gets prize money of R400 000.

The schools that win the competition in each of the nine provinces of South Africa receive prize money of R100 000 each.

SAFA has supported and partnered with the Motsepe Foundation and the Department of Basic Education over the years in schools football.

The sponsorship amount for the ABC Motsepe Schools Eisteddfod, Choral and Traditional Music will amount to 3 million per year and the sponsorship for the Kay Motsepe Schools Netball will amount to 2 million per year.

Minister of Basic Education, Mrs Angie Motshekga said: “Sporting and cultural activates in education help advance social cohesion and art an integral part of a holistic education system. As the Department of Basic Education we are extremely grateful to the Motsepe Foundation for this generous contribution which we believe will go a long way in advancing the development of our learners and promote our diverse cultural understanding”

The co-founder and CEO of the Motsepe Foundation, Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe said, “Sports and music make an important contribution to the growth and development of our youth and helps them become good role models.  My father-in-law, Mr ABC Motsepe loved school football as well as choral and traditional music.  Before he started his businesses, the school for which he was a headmaster participated in schools football and choral and traditional music competitions.  I am also excited that we will be sponsoring netball which is very popular amongst our girls in the rural and urban areas.”