Soccer project celebrates the life of former school principal
Shamala Rajah, the wife of former school principal Vassie Rajah, has initiated a soccer project in his remembrance.
The project will focus on training learners in soccer in order to identify potential champions.
The project kicked off at Allandale School on February 15, which coincided with the death anniversary of the school’s former principal.
The Vassie Rajah Foundation (VRF) has collaborated with the Elite Sports Programme (ESP) to train and coach the learners in soccer, with the ultimate aim of creating a system that can identify, develop and produce champions of the future. To this end, both the VRF and ESP will offer the following: Talent identification; Creating fair opportunities in sport; Youth and player development; Lifestyle coaching and goal setting;
Use of sport to promote a positive lifestyle and
A football structure where sessions are applied to age specific individuals;
“Allandale Primary School is passionate about using soccer as a tool to bring hope to the surrounding communities and to empower young children to transform their lives and the lives of those around them. “We believe that a partnership with the VRF will take us closer to realising this objective.”
The school system will provide girls and boys not only with an appropriate environment that is conducive to learning, but also with the opportunity of unleashing their potential in sporting ability and talent in general, and soccer in particular. The school system must be the focal point of talent identification and development of soccer, noting that the youth are the future of successful players at all levels.
Although the VRF has earmarked five schools in the area to benefit from this project, Allandale Primary School will, undoubtedly, play a leading role in ensuring the successful implementation of the ideal that Rajah envisaged before his untimely passing; that the children receive the best coaching in soccer. “Our learners will gain various skills in defending, passing, shooting, dribbling and ball control, among others.
The head coach is the renowned Mohamed Hoosen, who has qualified with a Soccer Coaching C Licence, approved by both the South African Soccer Association (SAFA) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF). He will be accompanied by an assistant coach.