Minister Ivan Meyer Applauds "FIFA Legacy" Street Soccer Programme

On Thursday, 12 May 2011, Dr Ivan Meyer, Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport in the Western Cape, visited the Kia Street Soccer Programme and Coaching Clinic in Grassy Park to see how private businesses and passionate people are driving youth sport development in our communities.

As part of FIFA's Ticket Fund legacy, the annual Kia Street Soccer League Programme has been able to give more boys and girls around the country the opportunity to play whilst also creating jobs.

On 15 April, the youth sport development agency, Sporting Chance, in association with title sponsor, Kia Motors, rolled out the national neighbourhood street soccer programme to 4 500 boys and girls under the age of 13 in neighbourhood streets in and around Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria, Durban and Port Elizabeth.

As the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport has an annual budget which is divided between sport and recreation, arts, libraries and cultural programmes, it can focus on a certain amount of development projects. The MOD (mass participation, opportunity and development) centre programme, which is the Department's youth sport development programme, has been rolled out to more than 100 schools in the province. The pilot phase has been a great success, and has allowed thousands of learners to get involved in sport and be identified for further opportunities through the talent identification process. At these centres, a professional coach and a trained sport coordinator ensure that the youths receive quality sport coaching and development.

Minister Meyer said, "Despite our fantastic MOD centre programme and the fact that we are introducing another 50 to schools in our rural and poorer communities this year, it is clear that there is a far greater need for youth sport programmes and we encourage private enterprise to get involved with youth sport development."

NGOs and private businesses focused on sport development all over the province are looking for support, and businesses (of all sizes) looking to get involved should contact the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport so that they can be pointed in the right direction.

"It isn't only the kids who will benefit from this programme," says Brad Bing, Managing Director of Sporting Chance, "local coaches and coordinators have been selected from each community and have received training in coaching and crucial life skills. Being healthy and keeping active are additional critical life skills taught by the programme, which is supported by FIFA and SAFA. Sport is such a powerful catalyst in this country. It has the power to transform lives. Now is the time to capitalise on 2010's soccer madness."

"The Sporting Chance and Kia Street Soccer Programme is a beautiful example of how these partnerships can work. They complement the work of the Department and, at the end of the day, it's about giving back to the community and that is what is happening here today. Today's youth are tomorrow's superstars and Sporting Chance is giving these children a real sporting chance!" said Minister Meyer.