Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi will tomorrow, 9 June deliver a keynote address at the unveiling of the Nike Football Training Centre in Soweto, Johannesburg.
The centre will give 20 000 young footballers the chance to develop their football talent while also having access to HIV and AIDS education through football life skills programming.
In his speech the health Minister is expected to address young people about the impact of HIV and AIDS in society and how, through sports they can play a role in preventing themselves from infection and being ambassadors in the fight against the pandemic.
Prevailing evidence consistently demonstrates that young people are more at risk of HIV infection and with the high mortality rate they become orphans and miss out on education opportunities. Social mobilisation of youth through sports such as demonstrated by the Nike initiative go a long way in instilling positive values among young people and promotes healthy lifestyles as part of preventing diseases including lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.
Members of the media are invited to the unveiling of the centre scheduled to take place as follows:
Date: 9 June 2010
Time: 10h30
Venue: Nike Football Training Centre (Old Potch Road), Klipspruit, Soweto, in the vicinity of former Soweto College of Education.
For more information please contact:
Fidel Hadebe
Cell: 079 517 3333
Seruscka Naidoo
Cell: 082 688 4376
Issued by: Department of Health
8 June 2010
