On the 3rd of January 2015, Dutch Football club Pec Zwolle, arrived in Cape Town for a training camp in preparation for the second half of the Eredivisie Season. Continuing from last year’s success the first select team based there training out of Stellenbosch University. This year the team played two exhibition games against Santos and Ajax Cape Town. The Blue fingers drew 1-1 and went down 2-1 to the respective teams. The team played with two different teams against Santo’s building towards a first team performance against Ajax.
Following the collaboration between the University of Stellenbosch and PEC Zwolle a social program was attached to the training camp this year. The KNVB and Pec Zwolle ran a Worldcoaches program for local coaches in Stellenbosch. The Workshop was run by Roger Schouwenaar, retired Dutch footballer and KNVB international World Coach, assisted by John Sibeko (a former professional South African footballer) and SAFA Coordinator Marion February (Female SAFA national Level 2 coach). The 5 day coach’s workshop covered a vast curriculum on coaching and development. Local Football Players from the township of Kayamandi took part in the week’s activities, with junior players experiencing international coaching as demonstration teams. The final day saw the Pec Zwolle football players assisting and playing in a Mini tournament with the local players. Over 60 children participated throughout the tournament
The Team also travelled to Kayamandi in Stellenbosch were the club offered a fence to be constructed around a local Safe House. The Safe House offers protection for Women and children in the township. The current structure is several damaged and will be replaced to ensure safety for all who come to the centre for refuge. On the final day of the camp, the team and staff were also able to see Cape Town visiting Robben Island and Cape Point.
The Team is current 4th on the Dutch Eredivisie standing, hoping to follow last year’s success after the Stellenbosch camp as they continue playing towards the top of the league.