Sport

FNB 2010 Legacy Programme kicks off

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5 May 2011

The first FNB 2010 Legacy Programme, an initiative between First National Bank and the SA Football Association, will see 15 coaches from rural areas receiving intensive training before rolling out a number of grassroots development initiatives across South Africa.

FNB and the South African Football Association (Safa) unveiled the legacy programme in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

The coaches, who were identified by Safa's technical department, will be put through their paces over the course of three days at the High Performance Centre at the University of Pretoria this week.

The training sessions will also address issues of maximising the use of equipment and facilities.

Roll out

Following their training, the 15 coaches will roll out a variety of football development and life skills initiatives at FNB artificial pitches in Pietermaritzburg, Mthatha, George, Thohoyandou and Kimberley.

The coaches' objectives will be setting up weekly training sessions and development squads for both boys and girls. Once the development squads have been established, a talent identification process will be activated by Safa.

In December last year, FNB announced its commitment to football development through the FNB 2010 Legacy Programme, which will see the bank invest R40-million in football development in South Africa over the next three years.

Immense contribution

Safa acting CEO Pinky Lehoko said the association's partnership with FNB was making an immense contribution to football development.

"We appreciate FNB holistic contribution to development, their role in sponsoring our junior national teams, the construction of five artificial football turfs and the 2010 grassroots legacy programme that involves the training of coaches and young players," Lehoko said.

Lehoko said all the initiatives were clear indications of FNB's commitment to uplifting football in South Africa.

FNB's head of corporate communications, Virginia Magapatona, said: "This should strengthen the national under-17 sides in their quest to qualify for their respective Fifa World Cup events."

Source: BuaNews