Pareto Limited, owners of Mimosa Mall in the Free State, have once again partnered with The Sports Trust, and they have installed a second Multipurpose Sport court in the Free State Province, this time at Batho Primary School which will be used by the surrounding schools, clubs and the local community in order to build healthy communities through sport.
The court will be handed over by The Minister of Sport, Mr Fikile Mbalula, MEC for Free State Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Mr Dan Kgothule and the Chief Executive Officer of Pareto Limited, Mr Marius Muller and Max Jordaan, Projects Manager of The Sports Trust on the 1st of June 2012.
Pareto Limited is South Africa’s premier shopping centre investor and one of the country’s leading retail property industry players, fully committed to furthering all facets of this exciting industry. Commitment to sustainable Corporate Social Investment is also a core feature of Pareto’s activities.
This school was selected by the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Sport and Talent Development in the Free State Province, as they are currently running school sport mass participation programmes in these schools. Batho Primary will share this multipurpose sport court with the other schools in the area being, Legae Primary, Morafe Primary, Phahamisang Primary, Mangaung Primary, Marang Primary, Sehunelo High School and the local sports clubs, thereby benefitting the whole community.

The outdoor multipurpose sport court has a twenty year lifespan, fifteen year warranty and made up of interlocking tiles, that provide lateral forgiveness and minimal impact on the joints of the players. It has also been audited and verified as “Zero Waste” and environmentally friendly, which is in line with the Sports Trust’s ‘green’ policy of helping to protect the environment. An integral part of this sustainable project includes coaching of the local coaches in these respective sporting codes which empowers them to continue improve their skills and training methods to become more effective, and ultimately achieve better performance from their players. The codes of sport played on this court include: 5 a side soccer (futsal), netball, basketball, tennis and volleyball.

R900,000 has been donated by Pareto Limited, using the Sports Trust as their implementation partner to install this state of the art multipurpose outdoor sport court facility at Batho Primary School.
“Pareto Ltd as the owner of Mimosa Mall is proud to be associated with funding this social contribution towards Batho Primary School and the broader community of Mangaung. Indeed, we would like to give back to the people who support our mall throughout and are currently in the process of investigating the possibility of making a further substantial capital investment into the existing Mimosa Mall. This will create significant employment opportunities for the local residents and add handsomely to the municipalities revenue collections.” “Sustainable infrastructures and programmes are essential in leaving legacies behind in our communities and this partnership has done just that by encouraging the youth from the area to continue to participate in sport,” says Max Jordaan, Projects Chairman of The Sports Trust.

Harmony Gold Mines, a Trustee of The Sports Trust has invested in installing 3 Multipurpose Sport Courts, using The Sports Trust as their implementation partner. The first one was handed over successfully last year at Mamello Secondary School in Virginia and today we are handing over the 2nd sport court here at Badirile Secondary School in Khutsong, with the third and last sport court being handed over later in the year.

Harmony’s strategic objective is to be relevant to mining and labour-sending communities by effectively contributing to community development that is sustainable. They are proud to be able to contribute to such a worthy initiative and at the same time develop South Africa’s future sporting talent as well as enhance the educational facilities.

The Multipurpose Sport Court facility will be used by 9 other surrounding schools (2 Secondary Schools and 7 Primary Schools) and the community’s local clubs. Sports programmes in Khutsong include soccer, netball, basketball and volleyball.

The outdoor multipurpose sport court has a twenty year lifespan, fifteen year warranty and made up of interlocking tiles, that provide lateral forgiveness and minimal impact on the joints of the players. It has also been audited and verified as “Zero Waste” and environmentally friendly, which is in line with the Sports Trust’s ‘green’ policy of helping to protect the environment. An integral part of this sustainable project includes coaching of the local coaches in these respective sporting codes which empowers them to continue to improve their skills and training methods to become more effective, and ultimately achieve better performance from their players.

These facilities require the support and involvement of the educators, physical educators and the community through recreational sports, competitions and talent development. The Sports Trust has entered into a joint venture with University of Western Cape and the German Sports University, and YES (Youth Evolution Sport) to place volunteer students at this facility in order to achieve sustainability. Training courses have taken place in terms of facility management, coaching, and court testing and we have identified ways of achieving a sustainable sport facility and operation of these sport courts, to ensure the longevity of this facility.

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world , and Harmony Gold Mines also supported Badirile school by providing the following educational facilities : A computer Centre, upgrading five of their laboratories, and providing a Business Centre, thereby assisting them with their education needs.

The Sports Trust believes that sustainable infrastructures and programmes are essential in leaving legacies behind in our communities and this partnership with Harmony Gold Mines has done just that by encouraging the youth from the area of Khutsong to continue to participate in sport.

Athlone Athletics will very soon celebrate 20 years of existence. From the early days after the Dynamoes and Wolves baseball clubs opted to merge their forces, there was always the urge to strive for anything better than what we had before.

From humble beginnings in this very same neighborhood, we toiled away at our game on any open space where a baseball field or part thereof could be marked out. At times we dodged trees and streams that were in our way, but the dogged determination to one day have a facility that we could call home, was always a priority. The base of the club started with 40 senior players and 20 juniors many of whom are still playing at the club 20 years later. Today, we boast a total membership of 200 active members ranging in ages from 5 years to 70 years. Coupled to this we have many volunteers who are active in many other activities within the club. The core of the club being the executive committee also consists of volunteers who do not earn a dime for the time and efforts that they put in.

The vision at our very first Annual General Meeting was to become the biggest and most successful baseball club in the Athlone area. We would like to think that we have succeeded in fulfilling this task. Energies were transferred to get ourselves a home venue where we could implement our training programmes and to host our opponents. We had little success in securing any long term leases at venues which had become available in the area. We had become nomads for a number of years until the opportunity arose at our current venue. After years of negotiations with the City of Cape Town we finally saw light at the end of the tunnel. These negotiations with the City of Cape Town and the Vangate Mall developers eventually culminated in what we now call the Parktown Sports Complex.

Because the membership of the club is always striving for something better, the next phase was to find the funding and build an indoor centre that could be used to enhance player performance, and provide a facility that would improve baseball in our community.  This has been achieved through the assistance and funding received from The Sports Trust of R 460,000 (Four hundred and sixty thousand rand). 

We now boast an indoor training centre with 4 batting lanes and 2 pitching lanes. There is also storage and office space for coaching staff. A gym area has also been built on an upper floor. With all of this in place, we will be able to condition our players much better.

At present, we are hosting Major League Baseball’s African Academy for TEN days. I can safely say that the coaching staff of Major League Baseball is satisfied with what they have seen thus far.

The vision never ends. Who knows what our next phase will be.

Lastly, we would like to thank those who have contributed in fulfilling this phase of our vision.
Ms Cathy Bradley of the Baseball Tomorrow Fund based in the USA
Mr Gert Bam, Director of Sport, Amenities and Recreation for the City of Cape Town
Mr Edwin Bennett, CEO South African Baseball Union
Mrs Anita Mathews,  Executive Director of The Sports Trust
Mr David Burch, Jolinde Construction
This list of persons could go on forever, but the last and most important persons who should get credit for their efforts would be Roderick Siljeur for always believing in this dream and Nathan Kerchhoff, a club member who has been instrumental in providing the plans for this project. He has also been the project manager, having to spend hours on site.

On a lighter note. Over the years, we have attracted many players from USA, Czechoslovakia, Botswana, Germany and Zimbabwe. These players performed under extreme conditions with fields that looked like cabbage patches, no showers, obviously no clubhouse, a 7 seater minibus to have an emergency meeting after practice. BUT, they stuck around and are still in contact. At a team talk after practice one evening, one of the German players noted that he enjoyed playing at Athlone Athletics because they had the biggest clubhouse in the world and would stretch his hands out towards the heavens and stars at 8.00pm at night to indicate the size. Now that’s what I call patience. He should be here now.

The evening consists of Corporates competing against eachother and answering various Sports Quiz Questions and general questions. The winning teams win great prizes, and there are other general raffle prizes to be won. Everyone dresses up according to the theme, and the cost includes your meal, some sponsored beverages, and entertainment, including trying to beat the winning team which last year was Nedbank Sponsorships ! This year will see four rounds of 10 questions each.

Its really a fun networking opportunity for a worthwhile cause. We also have media present, and the event is advertised on our Supersport slot 8 weeks prior to the event.

This year’s theme is “Mini Olympics” proudly sponsored by Broadlink. All guests are required to dress up accordingly, and its being hosted at Theatre on the Track, Main Road, Kyalami. We encourage the Corporates to invite their sporting Ambassadors, and we also have our own Sports Trust Ambassadors that join us for the evening and the sporting media.

• Date : Thursday 20th October 2011
• Time : 18h30 for 19h00
• Venue : Theatre on the Track, Kyalami
• Theme dress up : “Mini Olympics”
• Cost : R 12,000 per table, excl VAT (10 people per table)
• Includes : 3 course Dinner, sponsored beverages, participation in the Sports Quiz Challenge, great prizes to be won

The Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority, previously THETA, has entered into a partnership with The Sport Trust to facilitate the skills development of under privileged runners and to ensure that the youth and communities situated in and around Inchanga benefit from the 2011 Comrades Marathon Race through an investment of R60K. CATHSSETA is a statutory body established under the Skills Development Act No. 97 of 1998 which is mandated to implement the National Skills Development Objectives as outlined in the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS) III, which was launched by the Minister of Higher Education and Training Authority.

Sport is not only an influential and effective vehicle to dissuade the youth from getting involved in crime and destructive habits. It is one of the six sub sectors which CATHSSETA is directly involved with through the provision of skills development programmes and learnerships in order to ensure that the youth has an opportunity to pursue their childhood dreams whilst making a career out of it.

Anita Mathews, Executive Director of The Sports Trust says “ We are very excited about this partnership with CATHSSETA, and we are confident that the skills development in the Inchanga area will create a sustainable community. It is these partnerships that continue to ensure that The Sports Trust can deliver on its vision to build active communities through sport and recreation.”

For more information visit our website at www.cathsseta.org.za or call us on 011 217 0600

 END

The Nedbank Cup, now in its fourth season, kicked off on 9 March 2011. Modelled on the English FA Cup, the Nedbank Cup is the only knock out competition of its kind in South Africa and contributes to the development of domestic soccer by giving amateur teams an opportunity to compete against professionals.

The format sees 16 Premier League teams, eight First Division teams and eight amateur clubs battle it out on a knock-out basis to see who will be crowned champions.

Soccer remains not only the beautiful game but also the game of the people, most notably the stars of tomorrow. As a bank committed to making a difference in the communities in which it operates Nedbank, in partnership with The Sports Trust has embarked on an ambitious 50 kits to 50 schools campaign during 2011. Taking the form of a road-show the soccer kits have already been handed over to deserving schools in the Western Cape on 14 March 2011, and the Gauteng south and east schools handover takes place on Tuesday 12^th April 2011.

“The development of local talent has always formed a strong foundation of all Nedbank’s sponsorship properties and through the Nedbank Cup we are able to make a positive change in the communities in which we operate. Partnering with The Sports Trust allows us to bring soccer to the schools and communities who need it most,” says Maseda Ratshikuni, Head of Cause Marketing at Nedbank.

Mr Groenewald, Principal of Elandspark High School says that “ Our school is very excited about receiving the new soccer kit and equipment.  Our school is a ‘special needs school’ for pupils with learning problems and we also assist with providing support to learners coming from disadvantaged homes in the area.  The children play in a League for Special Schools, and attend an Interprovincial Tournament.  They will proudly wear their soccer kit at these league games and we wish to thank Nedbank and The Sports Trust for this soccer support.”

The Sports Trust is committed to ‘Building active communities through sports and recreation’ and helping tomorrow’s heroes today.  This is achieved through the ongoing support of its Trustees, including Nedbank.

list of schools in Gauteng
Notes to Editors:Gauteng South & East Schools receiving donations:

This story starts when Jane Zimmerman of the Siyaziza Trust, met a young 13 year old, Mfusi Ludude, in the wilds of Eastern Cape late 2010 who attends Kei Mouth Primary School. This school only offers soccer and not cricket, a sport which he and many of his schoolmates love to play in the caravan park during the holiday’s with the visitors and he’s been told that he is a good bowler. Mfusi had written a personal letter to Makhaya asking him to help him with tips for bowling as well as the closest place where he can play cricket. Through further investigation Jane found out that Makhaya Ntini’s Cricket Academy will only open in 2012, but in order to keep their enthusiasm alive, embarked on her mission of putting together a cricket clinic at their school. It was very fortuitous that Jane knew Zimkithu Zatu, from the IDC, a Trustee of the Siyazisiza Trust, and long time friend of Makhaya Ntini, who spoke to him and he agreed to assist with this request. They then learned that Makhaya Ntini is an Ambassador of The Sports Trust, and on contacting us, and through everyone’s hard work and efforts have managed to make this cricket clinic a reality. The most important aspect was gaining funding in order to provide the school with the necessary Cricket kit and equipment and this has been extended to soccer and netball kit being provided by The Sports Trust. Mrs Nonkqubela of the Mia Mazwai Family Trust, gave a very generous donation as well as funding from the Pick ‘n Pay Family Foundation, Morgan Bay Hotel and through some personal pledges of Jane’s colleagues we have been able to make this happen. Raymond Booi, from Border Cricket who actually “discovered” Makhaya all those years ago will be attending this event on 17th March at Ikhwili Primary School and managing the cricket clinic as there are 2 other schools attending, Siyasakha High School and Ferndale Farm School. Anita Mathews, Exectuive Director of The Sports Trust, says “We are delighted to be able to bring the sport of cricket to the Eastern Cape, at Kei Mouth, for Mfusi and the surrounding schools, and especially having Makhaya Ntini present is going to be so ‘inspirational and motivational’ for these youngsters. Through the personal efforts of everyone involved in making this happen it is testament that “dreams do come true” and that we can continue to support tomorrow’s heroes today, by building active communities through sports and recreation.

DEVELOPMENT CYCLISTS RIDING HIGH IN THIS YEAR’S ARGUS

The Nedbank Sports Trust Development Cycling programme continually introduces cycling to schools in the Cape Flats and Boland areas, providing them with a sustainable means of transport to and from school, thereby helping them lead a healthy lifestyle. 

 The schools are given an opportunity to participate in the Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay cycle tour which takes place on 13^th March 2011, and this year 120 development cyclists will be at the starting line.

This programme receives ongoing support from Nedbank, and has ensured that school participation increases giving new schools an opportunity to join annually.  Its at this level where the success stories start, and not on the finish line of the event.  The educators and schools are inspired and motivated to support their learners to achieve in this programme. 

“This successful project was started in 2007, as part of the Nedbank Sport Affinity programme funding, to develop the sport of cycling amongst the disadvantaged communities around the Western Cape, and provide children with a healthy low cost means of transport. It is another way Nedbank demonstrates its commitment to the communities in which it operates,” says Maseda Ratshikuni, head of Nedbank Cause Marketing.

In February 2011 some of the top riders were rewarded with bicycles which give them further inspiration to ‘reach for their dreams’.  Some of the recipients included Adrian De Bruyns, who had the fastest Cycle Tour time in 2010 from the Cape Flats area and Megan Paulsen, was the overall fastest women from Cape Town in 2010. The Boland recipients include Jolin Noni and Julie Appels who also received bikes in recognition of their hardwork and dedication to the programme.

The 2011 Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay cycle tour will see 120 of the development cyclists taking on the gruelling 110 kms challenge.

There are a total of 12 cyclists now that have been seeded in higher groups based on their times, and three cyclists, Adrian Mekriga, Jolin Noni and Eben Deerling , from Hex River in De Doorns have been given the great priviledge of being placed in the Nedbank Peleton.

For some of the new cyclists this is what they have to say “The training is good for my fitness, and I’m quite afraid of the long distance, but I know that if I can achieve this, I can be proud of myself” rider from Beacon Hill School.

Nedbank is one of the Trustees of The Sports Trust and continue to ‘Make Things Happen’ and live up to their Corporate values,  of being involved and supporting their communities.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact : Carol  Crawford

Marketing Communications Manager

Cell: 082 802 2899  Tel: 011 802 1818

Email : marketing@sportstrust.co.za

Christmas is coming early this year to schools in the North West Province thanks to pre-festive season gifts from Nedbank.

The major recipient is Leema Primary School in the village of Tlhatlaganyane, about 40kms from Sun City where Nedbank will be sponsoring the 30th Nedbank Golf Challenge from
December 2-5.

The Sports Trust recently received generous donations of soccer balls from HATCH as well as UK Soccer strips from THRIVE. These were kindly donated and handed over on 24th November 2010, to two recipients being SAFA Johannesburg Region, and Inner City Football Club. A total of 23 clubs will benefit from this handover.

The Pre-Primary School Athletics programme, in Paarl, was started by Pieter Lourens, in 2006, in commemoration of the late Elize Brenda Lourens, who had had a keen interest in the establishment of an infant athletics structure and developing school athletics.

The Sports Trust continues to build active communities through sport and recreation with specific emphasis on the provision of sports facilities and equipment to the underprivileged communities around our country, giving all South African’s a glimpse of their limitless potential.

Over the past few months leading up to the Soccer World Cup, Nkosis Haven and the Sports Trust have been the lucky recipients of redundant football strips from the UK. This was the initiative of THRIVE an informal network of local business people across Birmingham and the Black Country.

This year The Sports Trust took this opportunity by embarking on various campaigns aimed ultimately at assisting underprivileged runners from various areas around South Africa.

The Vultures AC is situated in the community of Bruntville near Mooi River in Kwazulu Natal and was started by Richard Buthelezi, who is a garden worker in the Town of Mooi River.

Indigo skate camp is situated in the valley of a thousand hills near Inchanga in Kwazulu Natal. Indigo was established in 2001 and has allowed many youths from the region to use skateboarding to boost them.

The Sports Trust’s popular sports quiz will again take place in October, with South Africa’s top sports brains, including sporting Celebes, competing for glory and the chance to help make a difference.

Lebo Motsoeli and Romy Titus, popular sports presenters on SABC television and Radio 2000, have decided to run the Comrades Marathon 2008 in support of The Sports Trust.

The Sports Trust and National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund has donated R80 000 to the Community and Individual Development Association the upgrading of its sports facilities.

The Hendrick Makapan High School outside Pretoria is the latest beneficiary of National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund and The Sports Trust’s commitment to develop sport throughout South Africa.