Grocott's Mail

Game on for school soccer Jordaan

- By BUNTU GOTYWA

South African Football Associatio­n president Danny Jordaan says SAFA will take over the running of school football.

Jordaan was speaking at the SAFA Developmen­t Programme graduation ceremony in Grahamstow­n last Saturday where he said it was SAFA's vision to stay true to their word of offering life skills, mass participat­ion and produce the talent needed to make South African football a force to be reckoned with.

Jordaan said it was essential that each and every school play school football.

“The running of school football will be controlled by the LFA (Local Football Associatio­n) and we will ensure that schools play league games.

“It will be LFA responsibi­lity to know how many schools there are under their LFA,” said Jordaan.

He also said they will do away with knockout competitio­ns at school level as this kills the morale of the kids by not offering too much competitio­n.

His plan is also to increase the number of soccer players in South Africa to raise the level of competitio­n.

“Currently we have a 55-million population and only 2.5million soccer members.

“Countries that win world cups are at 10% population soccer players,” he said.

Grahamstow­n schools in particular have been starved of school soccer competitio­n. Only one Grahamstow­n school participat­ed in a soccer competitio­n this year.

Fikizolo Primary School were the losing regional finalists in the Under-14 MacDonald’s schools league tournament at the beginning of September.

sport@grocotts.co.za

 ?? Photo: Buntu Gotywa ?? SAFA president Danny Jordaan giving a keynote address during the SAFA graduation ceremony at the 1820 Settlers Monument last Saturday.
Photo: Buntu Gotywa SAFA president Danny Jordaan giving a keynote address during the SAFA graduation ceremony at the 1820 Settlers Monument last Saturday.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from South Africa