AFA Development
The AFA is committed to broad-based sport and community development within the greater Soweto region and its surrounds of Johannesburg. It is envisaged that once the capacity has been developed, the Academy, as an organisation, will network the development opportunities nationally wherever a satellite club or provincial Academy structure is in place. Please note that this section is continuously being updated. If you require information regarding an area of the AFA's development network and its activities, please do not hesitate to contact the Director at amathole@fastmail.fm
News: 8th January '08
As part of the AFA mandate to create job opportunities, develop existing community run businesses and support sports resource distribution at locally affordable prices, the management are excited to announce the collaboration between PPza and Andrew Pikoos (AFA sports brand development). With the support from our sponsors, the programme is in the process of implementing ideas for future development. It is envisaged that the project will expand nationally to service the sporting community and fashion industry's. More details will become available as the project development unfolds.
News: 18th December '07
The AFA management are proud to announce the launch of a computer literacy program in 2008 for the 'Nthabiseng Home for Girls' through our IT partnership with Obsidian. The course is made possible through a collaboration with Astrid van der Putten in the UK. More details of this project will be highlighted below in the education section in due course.
Currently, the Academy is collaborating on a number of projects broadly categorised as indicated below:
Marking out the pitch before a locally organised u17 competition
Education
The Amathole Academy has, as part of its primary objectives, pursued collaborations with tertiary institutions (Wits University for the players) and commercial bodies (Obsidian for adult skills development) to establish an education programme to supplement the football and excellence programmes.
Tutorships for players still attending school have been facilitated, in collaboration with Wits University, with a pre-university academic program for those players who have matriculated being. Adult skills development workshops will be scheduled once the AFA's head-office and multi-purpose centre has been built.
In March of 2008, the AFA were visited by the Head coach, Jeffrey Cook, of Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, in the US. Dartmouth are a formidable team that regularly perform at the highest College level, having achieved 7 Ivy League Championships with 9 NCAA appearances.
Jeff spent 2 days with the players speaking to them about opportunities and assessing their potential. 5 individuals were identified as potential candidates for a sports scholarship programme to be implemented during the course of this year between the AFA and Dartmouth Men's Soccer, with further trials being planned for January of 2009. More details of Jeff's visit and the developing relationship between the two organisations will be posted shortly.
Details of the education project will be updated from time to time.
Adult Skills Development and Job Creation
The AFA is committed to uplifting the social and economic status of local residents in the greater Soweto region of Johannesburg. To this end, its activities will include a job creation mechanism in which services are not outsourced, but rather skills are developed and jobs created. All activities from the functioning of the AFA to the setting up of sustainable projects, which create jobs, will contribute in this regard.
Meetings between local artists, local businesses, and residents are proving fruitful. There are three projects that are in the process of approval, that are geared to providing commercial opportunities to local residents and businesses. Details will be forthcoming.
Community
Through partnerships with commercial enterprises and adult education institutions, local communities shall benefit from opportunities related to services required for the effective functioning of the Academy.
Such endeavours include catering, ground-staff, administration, fitness trainers and launderatte services, amongst others.
The Academy is embarking on two large community projects for 2006. The first is in collaboration with locally based persons who share common interests. From this collaboration, the 'Youth Development Foundation' will emerge later in 2006. It will address issues related to youth in Soweto as well as reach out to the greater Johannesburg community and present workshops on arts and crafts, sporting codes that are underrepresented and address issues such as 'Combating Racism'.
The establishment of a 'Traffic Centre', in collaboration with other interested organisations such as B.E.N. and the 'Life Development Cycling Academy', aims at developing both an awareness and interest in cycling as a sport and a viable option for transport. This is particularly important in the rural areas to facilitate job opportunities. This project will also provide employment for 2 locally certified persons.
Youth Development Foundation
The Youth Development Project is a collaboration between the AFA and Entokozweni Lethabong. It aims at providing opportunities to youth in the area of Jabavu, White City. Areas of interest are:
Drama - the production of '2010 - Love to be There' in collaboration with the Wits School of Dramatic Art (under discussion)
The crafts project which makes use of exotic plant material in collaboration with local parks departments (a newly percieved project that is seekinf support)
The 'Traffic Centre' project which aims at collaborating with other organisations and government bodies to bring awareness about traffic safety and an opportunity for school participation (talks already in process with two NGO's)
5-a-side soccer tournament, in collaboration with Netball South Africa and Basketball South Africa, at the Jabulani amphitheatre (Netball SA still to be contacted)
The following members are working with us to make it better:
Youth Development Foundation Members
Muzi Hlanzi (AFA)
Muzi Hlanzi currently serves as the AFA's Vice-chair and Community Officer. He is committed to seeing projects arise out of the AFA's activities that are of direct benfit to the greater Soeto community...
Muzi is contactable through the AFA's contact details above.
...
- Tel: 011 123 1234
- Fax: 011 123 1234
Tsepho Nkosi
Tsepho is the local chair and contact person for the Entokwezi Organisation and can be contacted at the following details:
School Development Projects
The AFA is currently investigating the development of an Ecological Education Centre in the vacinity of the Academy's grounds. Reite Molotsane, the AFA's administrator, will be heading up the project. The wetland area will be utilised in providing opportunities for local schools to monitor the water and wildlife that exists in this area. A number of national and local organisations will be approached, such as the Department of Water Affairs (DWAF), WEESA and other educational institutuions such as Wits University's Animal, Plant and Environmental Studies (APES) department.
Thabiso Madiba is a recent addition to the AFA team and will be coordinating the schools physical education program outreach. Details of this project are to follow soon.
The Amathole Football Academy
The development of the Amathole Football Academy is a large operation requiring funding from various donor agencies, government bodies and commercial sponsors. The AFA is finalising an MoU with SAFA Soweto and SAFA Development and will continue to negotiate a working agreement for the construction of the Academy's Head Offices in Mofolo, Soweto.
They include securing access to existing grounds, construction of administrative offices, an indoor training facility and multi-purpose hall, library resource facilities and logistical amenities. Future projects will include the development of a heritage museum of football in Soweto.