Sasol, in partnership with the South African Football Association - SAFA, officially launched a football talent development programme in the Fezile Dabi District at the Harry Gwala Sport Centre on Wednesday, 25 June 2014. This is the second leg of the partnership that impacts the local football associations of Fezile Dabi in the Free State and Gert Sibande in Mpumalanga. The first leg was launched on 26 March 2014 in Secunda.

Sasol’s long standing support for South African football development in the country has inspired the company to become the first corporate sponsor of the South African Football Association Development Agency (SDA).

The main objective of SAFA’s vision 2022 Football Development Plan is to have all SAFA national teams ranked consistently in the top three in Africa and top twenty in the world. The plan has seven pillars to it. These include the development of a national playing philosophy, the training and licensing of coaches, the identification and nurturing of talent from the earliest age, as well as organisation of structured competition at a local football association level.

“Sasol is excited about this initiative as it is an excellent example of our commitment to the communities in which we operate, in collaboration with other partners such as SAFA-DA. Our approach to sustainable development, as the success of Sasol’s Ikusasa community and infrastructure development programme demonstrates, depends on building strong and mutually beneficial relationships. We are therefore proud to be working with the South African Football Association to contribute to the development of football in our region,” said Vusi Cwane, Vice President, Sasol Public and Regulatory Affairs, Sasolburg.

The Sasol-SAFA football development programme entails SAFA B and C licence certification of coaches, grassroots coaching and education programmes, training of coaches/ life-skills educators and referee development. Provision is also made for staffing and operational costs, while growth and development of women’s football in the community will also be addressed.

Sasol has been involved with the development of football for over 20 years; firstly with the National U/23 Football Team “Amaglug-glug”, and more recently with women’s football in Sasol Banyana Banyana and the women’s provincial football league, the Sasol League. The Sasol-SAFA football development programme further cements Sasol’s commitment to the development of football in the country.