The South African Breweries (SAB) has donated sports equipment to the value of R87 000 for Benny´s Sports Development Academy, during afunction that was held on the school premises at Tshiozwi in the Sinthumule area last Friday.

The equipment includes 30 sets of soccer boots, two soccer kits, 40 soccer balls, corner poles, 30 protectors, two sets of nets, school bags, bibs and track suits.

According to Mr Sylvester Ndaba, who is the CSI Specialist of the South African Breweries (SAB) at national level, the donation is part of the SAB´s Play-a-million programme where the company is investing in education through sports. Ndaba added that the main objective of the project is to develop players into future leaders. "We want to instill leadership and discipline in the youth of South Africa," he said.

Ndaba further indicated that they want to do away with the fly-by-night academies "that are robbing people around the country. I know that there are fly-by-night soccer academies around South Africa that are taking people´s money," emphasised Ndaba.

Asked why the SAB had chosen to support Benny´s Academy, Ndaba said that the South African Breweries had been looking for a soccer academy school in Limpopo and at the same time Benny´s Academy was seeking for a sponsor at SAB. "When doing our research, we eventually found Benny´s Academy, and here we are!"

Ndaba, who also trains the South African Referees for the Premier Soccer League, said that he would also come back to Venda to offer the Vhembe referees a free training course as he had just acquired an advanced referee qualification from Belgium and England.

Ndaba further indicated that he would also bring with him the head of sports development of Wits University so that he could select players from Benny´s Academy. "Young players must also take part in education," Ndaba concluded.

The managing director of Benny´s Sports Development Academy, Mr Benny Mufamadi, said that he was delighted with the donation. Mufamadi indicated that the donation was the biggest help they had ever received as the academy. "I am happy with the equipment. This is the biggest challenge towards 2010, so I encourage the learners of the academy to work very hard," he said

The President of SAFA Vhembe Region, Mr Khorommbi Nemavhola, told Mirror that the players must be accountable for what they have received. Nemavhola added that "as SAFA Vhembe Region, we recognise and have trust in Benny´s Academy and we´ll always support them. The academy must work with the Makhado Football Association," said Nemavhola.

Nemavhola outlined that people must do away with age cheating during soccer games. "Ladies must also be treated equally at the academies. Woman football also deserve equal treatment," he concluded.