The football teams of the Sol Plaatje University (SPU) received a game-changing R500 000 donation from the Northern Cape Provincial Government, courtesy of the premier, Dr Zamani Saul.
The handover took place in the beginning of April at the newly inaugurated SPU Sport Precinct, South Campus.
This contribution will propel the development and revitalisation of football at the university, paving the way for a bright future in the sport.
Saul emphasised the provincial government’s vision to establish a Premier Soccer League (PSL) team in the province, with SPU’s football teams playing a crucial role as feeder teams for more established clubs.
SPU vice-chancellor and principal, Prof. Andrew Crouch, expressed gratitude for the donation and affirmed that this would not only benefit the university, but also the wider province.
The captains of the men’s and women’s first football teams, Raymond Bott and Motlatso Matabane, were also present.
“With this financial support, we can evolve into an outstanding team, fostering social cohesion within the community and elevating sport and academic excellence to new heights,” Bott stated.
Matabane reflected on her team’s journey, saying when she joined the team in 2021, they faced numerous challenges, including a lack of practice fields and equipment.
“With the recently launched sport precinct, we now have a home venue to play and practice.”
Nicole Morris, dean of student affairs, said with the recently launched sports precinct and this donation, they could finally put the wheels in motion, igniting change and introducing new initiatives towards heightening access, inclusion, and support in football.
