Pitso Mosimane, the head coach of Al Wahda, a team from Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, has returned to South Africa to unveil an exciting initiative. In collaboration with Pitso Mosimane Soccer Schools and The Sports Trust, Nedbank is committed to promoting sports development by sponsoring a versatile sports court for Lofentse Girls High School in Soweto.
This partnership recently reached a significant milestone as Nedbank, in conjunction with the reigning champions of the 2022/23 Nedbank Cup, Orlando Pirates, proudly hosted the official handover of the sports court this past Tuesday. This project became a reality through the financial backing of Nedbank and The Sports Trust's Soccer Development Programme.
This partnership epitomizes a shared commitment to fostering sports development, identifying talent, and empowering local communities in South Africa. Since 2012, in collaboration with The Sports Trust, Nedbank has funded the construction of 10 multipurpose sports courts, each worth a staggering R2 million.
These state-of-the-art facilities have a projected lifespan of 20 years and can accommodate five different sporting codes, providing a haven for the community and nurturing various sports disciplines. Zizi Kodwa, the Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture, expressed his support for this initiative, stating, "Women and grassroots sports development are among the priorities of Government.
Nedbank and The Sports Trust have shown what can be done when community stakeholders collaborate to develop grassroots sports." He also emphasized the importance of such facilities in keeping the youth active in the community, especially in townships and rural areas, to elevate women's sports and grassroots development.
As the official ambassador of the 2023 Nedbank Cup, Pitso was honoured with the naming rights to the multipurpose sports court. Pitso expressed his deep appreciation for this opportunity, stating: "It's more than winning a trophy that you display in the house. This is a facility that everybody, including the school, will use. This is humbling, especially for my grandchildren."
He also extended his gratitude to Nedbank for choosing him as their ambassador for 2023, remarking on the nostalgic connection to the area where he made his PSL debut and watched his uncles' play.
