Posted by Zulumathabo Zulu

The South African Breweries (SAB) in partnership with the South African Football Association (SAFA) officially launched the Gauteng leg of the 2015/16 SAB League on Tuesday (November 10, 2015) at the SAB Gauteng Regional Office in Isando, Johannesburg. The launch of South Africa’s largest development league also served as a platform to hand over new kits to the 100 participating teams in the Gauteng SAB League for the upcoming season to bring about uniformity and professionalism for the league.

In line with the SAB League’s vision of its holistic development to grassroots football, the proud sponsor of the country’s largest development league announced its Study Assistance Programme that will see players participating in the league furthering their academic studies.

The study assistance programme will officially kick off in the new season and will see players building a strong academic foundation to fall back on post their football careers.

Another exciting development innovation for the upcoming season will be the SAB League Skills Camps, which will be focused on players match officials, coaches and club officials (owners). These camps will see SAB partnering with SAFA and other organisations to improve and up skill all participants of the SAB League throughout the season. SAB League SAFA Coordinators will also benefit from the development focused initiatives through computer skills and resources.

The SAB League is currently in its 15th edition after being formally established in 2000. Since then, the nationwide league has proven to be the breeding ground for top scouts and continues to be a talent identification hub for South African clubs that are in search of the country’s next football stars. Not only will be SAB League unearth quality footballers next season but it will now produce educated footballers next seasons but it will now produce educated footballers who are able to make informed decisions about their futures.

SAB’s Economic Development Manager for Corporate Affairs, Octavius Phukubye shared the SAB’s excitement ahead of the new seasons, saying that the 2015/16 edition of the SAB League will see the SAB taking holistic development to even greater heights.

“We are thrilled at how we are improving and maturing our approach to football development. Today’s kit handover marks the start to the new SAB League season that will incorporate some exciting new innovative elements. We are confident that through our partnership with SAFA, we will continue producing the country’s next footballers, coaches and administrators who are equipped both on and off the field” said Phukubye.

Echoing the sentiments of SAB, SAFA’s Gauteng Regional President, Anthony Reeves said that the new season would give birth to a totally different class of footballers.

“Modern football requires players, coaches and administrators to be educated and through this exciting addition to the SAB League, we are proud as SAFA to be associated with a brand such as SAB that is pulling out all the stops in its holistic approach to football development” said Reeves.

The SAB League Kit Handovers will continue across other SAB League regions during the month of November.

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Issued on behalf of the South African Breweries by M-Sports marketing: For further enquiries please contact: Thabang Mazibuko on 011-781-9724 or thabang@msportsmarketing.co.za