Golden Oldies Football Club and Zola Community Football Club were given an opportunity to improve their odds to achieve their dreams, when Betway South Africa donated a set of playing kits and training equipment to the two Sowetan clubs.
In an exciting exhibition match played at the Zola Sports Complex in Soweto, the two elderly sides showed no signs of aging when they played out to an exciting <Score> to the enjoyment of the community. The exhibition match was facilitated by Banyana Banyana head coach, Desiree Ellis who played on either side during the game giving the elderly ladies some valuable coaching tips. The game served as preparations for the Golden Oldies ahead of their invitational annual tournament for the elderly in Durban.
The Golden Oldies, one of the most popular football clubs for the elderly in Soweto was established in 2014 by founder and club captain, Sibongile Mazibuko. Popularly known as “Makhekhe” when she has the ball on her feet, Mazibuko founded the club with an aim to assist the elderly to lead a healthy and active lifestyle and enjoy the game they all love so much. At the age of 59, Mazibuko leads a squad of elderly women between the ages of 55 and 70 who participate on a bi-weekly basis in a local league facilitated by the Soweto Football Association.
Speaking after the exhibition match, Mark Rowles, Head of Marketing Betway Africa, said they were humbled to be involved in such a heart-warming community initiative which will go a long way in community upliftment.
“As Betway, we take pride in playing such a pivotal role in the community. While our core focus is in professional online sports betting, it is equally important for us to go back to our communities and lend a helping hand to the communities we operate in. We believe in making a positive impact in the areas of sports upliftment. We wish them the best of luck in Durban and urge them to continue the great work they are doing” said Rowles.
In addition to the playing kits and training equipment, Betway donated a cheque of R30 000 to help the team with their preparations and logistics for the Durban tournament, a gesture that was well received by the Golden Oldies founder.
“From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to thank Betway South Africa for this wonderful sponsorship that will certainly go a long way in encouraging us to continue playing football. Since starting this club, a lot of illnesses have been reduced as a result of us being regularly active. This has also greatly reduced our medical expenses and such donations will help us continue leading a healthy lifestyle” said Mazibuko.
Giving back is nothing new for the sporting brand, Betway, continues to offer greater support for sporting communities in need including community projects across the continent whether it may be basketball in Uganda or soccer development in Ghana. The sporting brand aims to not merely sponsor top teams across the globe, but to make a positive contribution on sports upliftment as a whole by improving their odds to achieve their dreams.