The Village Square Sport for Youth Soccer Programme was launched in September 2019, when Matt Davis, a St Francis resident, identified the need for a programme in the Sea Vista community which would provide children with structured soccer training and keep them occupied in positive activity after school.
The programme is sponsored by Village Square Shopping Centre, which sponsors the management costs and provides all the necessary equipment and soccer kit for the programme, and by Village Square SUPERSPAR which provides the catering and refreshments for the players after each soccer practise. The programme has also been supported by the St Francis community through various donations including goal posts, water bottles and soccer boots. When the participants were asked what they enjoy most about the programme, their responses followed a common thread about the positive contribution that it makes in their lives. “I enjoy the teamwork and coaching” said Anothando Katoo, and “I like to play soccer in this programme because it will help me achieve my dream of becoming a professional player” said Abongile Sethi.
The training sessions take place twice a week, in St Francis Bay, and accommodate 20 – 30 players aged between 12 and 15 years. The programme will move back to the main sports field in Sea Vista once the reconstruction of these facilities has been completed. Matt has entered a team in the local soccer league which takes place between Sea Vista, Humansdorp and Jeffrey’s Bay. “It makes a big difference for the kids to have matches to train towards and it keeps them occupied and off the streets on the weekend” says Matt.
For further information about the programme and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Robyn Gedrych on rgedrych@capland.co.za or 021 673 3300.