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PREPARING SOUTH AFRICA FOR THE WORLD |
Former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Craig Hepburn has just launched South Africa's first seven-day-a-week football academy. Hepburn believes the 2010 World Cup will provide the catalyst to boost the sport at a grassroots level. He spoke to Project 2010 about these and other issues...  What makes the African Brothers Football Academy so unique? We are recruiting people from all walks of life to help develop their football skills on the field - and life skills off it. Street children, refugees, former prisoners and ordinary suburban kids are among those enrolled. The academy will act as a training ground for coaches and players alike, providing members with valuable skills. What is the background to this initiative? It began in the townships when a few friends decided to launch a team united despite its diversity, and it now has a permanent base in Cape Town. Are there any opportunities for outsiders to get involved in this initiative? Yes. There is an ideal opportunity for corporates, organisations and individuals to come on board to help with this initiative. We need assistance in the following areas - accounting, advertising, public relations, roofing, plumbing, lighting, fencing, netting, steel cabling, and low density flood lighting and artificial playing surfaces. The companies will be able to provide much needed services enabling them to showcase their expertise and benefit from the national and international media the academy attracts. How has the reaction been to the launch? Fantastic. We attracted a large crowd at the launch and we had a lot of support from the community and the police. Everyone has embraced this initiative and we are growing from strength to strength. more interviews... |
