Selati Super Cup 2009June 30, 2009

In 2005 we took the step to launch the Selati Super Cup. The initiative was motivated by FIFA’s decision to stage the 2010 Soccer World Cup Tournament in South Africa.

At that time we said it would be necessary in the light of the historical significance of the 2010 world cup to create excitement at grassroots level by supporting a local tournament that would help revive the spirit of the game here in Nkomazi. We said that we would do so for five years.

And so, on 19 April 2005, we launched Selati Cup with 32 teams participating. In 2006 the number grew to 57. In 2007 it was 101 and last year we had 106 teams. For two years (in 2007 and 2008) we had nine and 16 women teams participating in the tournament respectively). As the number of teams has grown, so has the crowd – thanks to the media. At the finals last year the estimated figure was 6000.

Our sponsors have also been growing in their generosity. We started off in 2005 at R10 000 for the overall winner. In 2006 it went up to R20 000. In 2007 it went up to R30 000 and last year it was R40 000. Thanks to all the partners and sponsors for their generous contribution.

Perhaps by way of refreshing your memories I should take this opportunity to mention that the inaugural champions of the Selati Cup in 2005 were Langloop Junior Pirates, 2006 was Ntunda Home Killers, in 2007 we had Schoemansdal Junior Aces and last year’s champions were Jeppes Reef Barcelona.

Selati Super Cup, as many of you know, is a public-private partnership initiative in which government, the private sector and civil society have collectively invested resources for the good of the community. The project belongs to and is led by the Nkomazi Local Football Association, an affiliate of SAFA. It is supported on the government side by the Nkomazi Municipality, Ehlanzeni District and the Provincial Department of Culture Sport and Recreation. Private Sector contributors include Tsb, Trac, Buscor, Standard Bank, Vulombe and others. We have had the privilege of working with the Kruger National Park.

I mention the Kruger National Park separately because of the outstanding contribution they have made not only in lifting the standard of the game but also because through them we have been able to secure an amount of R1.2million in infrastructure funds from the DBSA to grass Driekoppies Stadium and City Royal soccer fields. Our sincere appreciation must go to Dr Bandile Mkhize the former Managing Executive of the Kruger National Park whose love for community development set him on a fundraising drive for this project. It is a pity that he cannot be here this year to see Selati Cup played on a green pitch. Dr Mkhize is now CEO of KZN Wildlife.

Today we gather on the eve of two long awaited soccer events. The FIFA Confederations Cup, which is due to take place in the second half of this year and the prestigious 2010 world cup soccer tournament in just over a year. Almost all of us are inundated with messages that constantly remind us of these imminent events. The countdown has begun. And I suppose we are all eager to be part of these historic events in one way or the other.

These exciting developments will require the attention of soccer administrators including some of the people we have relied upon to help us in the organizing of the Selati Super Cup over the years. Some in the leadership of the Nkomazi Local Football Association would be expected to prioritize SAFA assignments, leaders and managers in government including the municipality may have increased commitments from the 2010 office and the media’s attention will be directed to these important national events.

For this reason we have decided to start the 2009 Selati Super Cup programme early and are aiming to finish well before the FIFA Confederations Cup. I understand that the number of participating teams this year exceeds 150. Great effort will be required to manage this project successfully, and I want to urge everyone to do their best. Our success will be a fitting tribute to the founding leaders of the tournament. Former MEC Nomsa Mtshweni, former executive mayor of Nkomazi and now deputy mayor of Ehlanzeni Dr Selby Khumalo, outgoing Tsb MD Mr Hennie Snyman, ex-Managing Executive of Kruger Park Dr Bandile Mkhize, SAFA Ehlanzeni CEO Mr Brains Zulu and especially the late Mr Reuben Mahlalela who early this year lost his life to illness. Mahlalela has regarded this tournament as an annual consummation of the marriage that exists between Tsb and SAFA Ehlanzeni.

After months of discussions we are pleased to announce that Tsb has agreed to fund the establishment of a new Super League that will result in the establishment of an Nkomazi Soccer Stream to compete in the promotion league. This initiative is the brainchild of the late Mr Reuben Mahlalela. A name for this new stream will be finalized soon.

In conclusion I would like to indicate that the prize money for the top four this year is as follows:

Fourth place                 R10 000
Third place                   R15 000
Second place               R30 000
First place                    R55 000

We look forward to yet another successful tournament

Issued by
Vusi Khoza: General Manager, Corporate Communications
Tsb Sugar

Contact
Kenneth Phiri: Public Relations Officer