Programme director
The Executive Mayor of Polokwane Municipality, Cllr. Thabo Makunyane
Our esteemed traditional leaders here present
The President of SAFA, Mr Kirsten Nematandani
The CEO of the FIFA 2010 LOC, Dr. Danny Jordaan
The Provincial Representative and SAFA NEC member, Lucas Nhlapo
SAFA Leadership of the Capricorn region
SAFA delegates
Religious leaders
Members of the business fraternity
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
All protocol observed
On behalf of the Premier of Limpopo and the people of the province in particular, I wish to welcome the return of serious football activities, administration and technical expertise to this, our province of peace and the heartland of southern Africa! Indeed Premier Mathale would have been here with us, had it not been for other prior arranged engagements. He sends his warmest regards and congratulations for this very auspicious occasion.
This event could not have come at a better time, shortly after our celebrations of Freedom Day on 27th April. It is an honour and a privilege for us to say that in this, our 16th year of democracy in freedom, we are getting ready to host the spectacle of all sporting spectacles, here in our very province.
Government is enthralled, collectively with the masses of our people, that we have moved a step closer to normalise the situation in our hands as far as football in this country is concerned. Had this not been the case, it would have been catastrophic for the growth of the game of football, the talent- identification, development and exchange of talent with the rest of the world.
We have, as government, embraced the idea of continuous engagement, utilisation and promotion of local talent. The strides that we have made in preparing the Province for 2010, have been enormous. This is evident from all the mass mobilisation projects that have been undertaken by the province is the past few weeks.
We remain convinced that the brick and mortar work completed before the kick-off of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, shall not have been in vain for the people of the Capricorn region. We are confident that the leadership will conduct the business at hand in a diligent, fair, transparent and honest manner. A house that was built on a rock will withstand the biggest of storms, but a house built on sand will not even sustain the smallest of breezes.
Programme director,
Football in this country continues to be a unifying factor on many levels. We should continue to use it as a catalyst for growth, development and a society free of violence, crime, substance abuse, teenage pregnancies and disease. We have seen the
benefits of our people active in football from the youngest ages to the ripe old age of 84. The Vakhegula Vakhegula continue to amaze even international audiences.
When we continue to inspire and encourage all our people in this beautiful and diverse Province of us to become active in especially football, we will reap the benefits in the long run, in terms of a crime-free, socially cohesive, healthy and active nation.
The new management of the SAFA Capricorn Region therefore has a mammoth task that includes the wellbeing of the people of this District!
Programme director,
We continue to be supportive of our platinum boys, Bafana Bafana. We continue to disregard the prophets of doom and we proudly display this support each and every Friday. We know that we can continue to build on our National Team through intensified development programmes from grassroots level. We can learn from the saying that Rome was not built in a day. We cannot build capacity at such an advanced level, if we don’t first concentrate on the basics.
In closure, I once again wish to congratulate the newly elected Executive Committee that will from now on be officially assuming their duties. May your term be fruitful and may your deliberations be peaceful, fair and progressive. I am confident that your contribution will leave a lasting legacy in the district, for the People’s favourite sport – football, soccer, diski!
Forward to the 2010 FIFA World Cup!
I thank you!
Source: Limpopo Department of Sport, Arts and Culture
