On Thursday, 5 March 2020, Sasol in conjunction with SAFA conducted a ball handover event at Jabavu stadium, in Soweto. As part of Sasol’s #Limitless initiative, 500 girls in and around Gauteng each received a ball to help set them up in their football career. Banyana Banyana players were also present and conducted a coaching clinic with the girls, sharing tips on how to enhance their football skills.
The handover comes after Sasol’s nationwide fill up campaign during December 2019, where South Africans were encouraged to contribute to the growth of women’s football by filling up at Sasol forecourts. For every tank that was filled, Sasol committed to donating a ball to a deserving girl child in all nine provinces.
Sasol’s Senior Group Brand Manager Nozipho Mbatha said, “We are excited and honoured to handover soccer balls to 500 girls in and around Gauteng. As a supporter of women’s football, we believe that every girl can reach their #Limitless potential if given the platform and opportunity, and it all starts with a ball. It is the beginning of a new decade and we are excited to explore new opportunities that will help grow and improve women’s football in South Africa. Today was only the beginning, we look forward to reaching more girls around the country.”
Joining the handover with the Alex Girls Football Development Programme was Bantwana coach Simphiwe Dludlu. “I was honoured to be at Jabavu stadium for this great initiative. When Sasol informed me about this project, I was so excited, not for myself but for the young girls at the Alex Girls Football Development project and others like them. It is pleasing to see that even outside of the Sasol League and Banyana Banyana, Sasol still continues to support young girls with their big dreams.”
The campaign, which will be rolled out until June 2020 will see 5000 girls all around the country receive soccer balls and skills development training.
Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis added, “In this sport, you can have boots, a kit, a field, but without a ball, the game will not take place. I think this a great initiative, especially because its targeted at girls around the country and not just one province. These girls now have the opportunity to play and train at home with their friends, without having to wait until they get to school, or training. As a coach, I believe that there is talent in the country and I’m glad to see Sasol’s continued support in nurturing our girls while they are still young.”
