Wed May 16 07:03:00 UTC 2007
South Africa Schools Netball (SASN) today (Wednesday, 16 May 2007) announced a R1,5 million sponsorship to fund the 2007 Shoprite Checkers / SASN National Under-13 Netball Championships.
It is a nationwide netball competition involving 25 000 primary schools and thousands of grade seven learners stand to win national acclaim as young sport heroes of the nation by competing in the national championships.
The sponsorship is the continuation of a R12,5 million sponsorship by the Shoprite group over the past nine years to help with the development of South Africa’s biggest women’s sport and involves parents, teachers and communities in highly competitive junior sport.
In announcing the sponsorship Shoprite’s group marketing director, Brian Weyers, said it makes sense to promote sport among South Africa’s youth, especially girls, considering that 90% of the group’s close on 40-million monthly shoppers are women.
SASN Chairperson, Di Woolley, commented: “Shoprite’s sponsorship of junior netball these past nine years has impacted significantly on the development of school sport, and just serves to show the conducive role the private sector can play in developing South Africa’s young talent.”
South Africa’s 25 000 primary schools nationwide are invited to enter their Under-13 teams into the championships by submitting entry forms to organisers, available from all SASN regional representatives and on the USSASA webpage.
Certificates of Entry will be issued to all registered teams, who will compete in regional playoffs in the second school term, with a total of 87 teams competing in the district finals.
Sports Buzz and Ses'fikile, the SABC1 TV programmes will cover the championships and viewers will be able to watch the players in action from Friday, 15 June 2007 on Sports Buzz at 15h30 and on Ses'Fikile on Sunday, 17 June 2007 at 14h00. The programmes end on Ses'Fikile on Sunday, 26 August 2007 and on Sports Buzz on Friday, 31 August 2007.
The Championship culminates in a nail-biting national final being played at Dr EG Jansen High School in Rietfontein Road Boksburg between Friday, 3 August 2007 and Saturday, 4 August 2007.
This major development initiative for women’s sport in South Africa will expose the young sport heroines of our big cities and remote rural areas, and has already enabled thousands of young women to play top Netball at high school, provincial and national level.