C.D. Sports rescue Lobatse youth

TSHEPO MOLWANE
Staff Writer | Wednesday February 20, 2008 00:00

 

The equipment included full-kits and soccer balls for the club. The clubs, which benefited are: Marathon FC, BMC, Maletamotse, Extension Gunners and Lobatse Stars. During an official launch held at the Cumberland Hotel on Monday night, C.D. Sports representative Orayuah Dada said that her company saw it fit to sponsor the clubs as it will help raise their game. 'Sport is a necessary component to develop young people. Investing in such programmes is part of our social responsibility and soccer has power to unify the nation,' she told the gathering. She pointed out that investing in youth football is important as Botswana builds towards 2010 World Cup, which will be coming to Africa for the first time. Dada further said that her company is following other local brands in sponsoring football. In recent years, companies have come forward and invested a lot of money in football, something that has helped raise soccer standards.

Another official from C.D. Sports, Itumeleng Duiker, pleaded with Lobatse parents to encourage their children to support the SOFA league. He highlighted that this will help raise the standard of the game in the country and hopefully produce stars that the country would be proud of. 'The likes of Ronaldinho (Brazil and Barcelona superstar) started like this and look where they are now,' he said. Duiker, who is a former Extension Gunners and Zebras' captain, pleaded with those who will be involved in the league, to adhere to the FIFA Fair Play slogan.

In his welcome remarks, the chairman of SOFA league Odirile Matlhaku said that youth football is a very important component in the structures of Botswana Football Association (BFA). He said that for the league to run smoothly, they need sponsorships like the one from C.D. Sports and applauded the company for having seen it fit to buy the equipment. BMC coach Phillemon Kgaodi welcomed the sponsorship as their teams have been struggling to find equipment. 'We are happy because our senior teams seemed to be ignoring youth welfare. The kids were not comfortable playing in over-size kits and with this equipment from C.D. Sports, it will help them to play freely,' Kgaodi told Mmegi Sport.

His counterpart from Gunners, Happy Dintwe concurred that their management seemed to be ignoring youth development. He is confident that with the sponsorship, their clubs will see it necessary to concentrate in youth football. 'Even coaches for our senior teams, they should come forward and help us prepare these youngsters. Some of us (coaches), we are still learning and they can help us,' said Dintwe. This coming weekend, Marathon will face BMC at Bothakga Primary School on Saturday. The following day, Maletamotse take on Lobatse Stars at New Look Primary School.