Foundation launched in honour of Dan Pasiya
Focus will be on sport development and providing opportunities for Eastern Cape youth
In a continuation of the legacy of businessman, philanthropist and sports enthusiast Dr Dan Pasiya, his family and several stakeholders launched the Dan Pasiya Foundation at the East London Golf Club on Thursday.
Among the dignitaries at the launch were King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality mayor Nyaniso Nelani, UDM president Bantu Holomisa, Buffalo City deputy mayor Princess Faku, ANC provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi and Eastern Cape MEC of recreation, sports, arts and culture Nonceba Kontsiwe.
Sturu Pasiya, Dan’s son and chairman of the foundation, said its objective would be to oversee the development of various sporting codes in the Eastern Cape and to nurture talent among disadvantaged youth.
“We have big shoes to fill with the foundation,” he said. “Our father liked sport development and unearthing raw talent among the youth.
“The most critical thing is to get young kids off the streets and to play sport. That is something that we would like to achieve.
“We want to create opportunities for young athletes.
“We are working hard to get a sport science institute in the rural areas where kids can learn more about sport, because there’s is more to it than just being a player.
“We hope to partner with a local university so we can expose our children to those opportunities.
“We are going to appeal to the government to help us with infrastructure because it is key if we are going to move forward with planning of the foundation.”
The Tsolo-born Pasiya died in February, aged 88.
He was chairman of Bush Bucks Football Club which competed in the Premier Soccer League for 17 years.
During his reign, Imbabala were crowned Coca-Cola Cup (now Telkom Knockout) champions in 1993 and 1996.
However, the Bucks suffered relegation at the end of the 2002-2003 season. They returned after only one season out the topflight, but were relegated again in 2005/06.
Pasiya also played a huge role in sports development in Mthatha.
He built the R2m Dan’s Tennis Academy at Dan’s Country Lodge, targeting 150 rural youth and disabled youth from the villages near the lodge.
Kontsiwe said the department of sport was going to work with the foundation.
“We are going to work together with the foundation to keep the legacy of Dan Pasiya going,” she said. “His work was within what our department is about.
“The foundation’s mission about development in sport is one of the things that we are obliged to do.
“We are going to provide the things that they will need for the development of sport in the Eastern Cape.”