Football in Stellenbosch continues to grow as the University opened a solar-powered artificial grass 5-a-side field at the Lentelus football zone on the 8th of July 2014.

This will be the first solar-powered field in the region, The field was part of a joint project by the Netherlands government, PEC Zwolle Football Club and the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) with local partners Stellenbosch University, Philips, Innovus, Greenfields and Forwardzone

The Field was opened in remembrance of the late Stellenbosch University Professor Russel Botman, who had a real passion for soccer and was fully behind the development of the game in the Cape Winelands area. Botman, who was vice-chancellor at Stellenbosch University, passed away unexpectedly just a few days before the opening.

Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands, Lilianne Ploumen, was the guest of honor at the opening of the field.

“Prof Botman was a driving force behind the development of soccer at the university,” Ploumen said. “To that end he partnered with the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) and Dutch soccer club PEC Zwolle. It is with sadness that we did not meet him here as planned.

“This field will contribute to the development of Stellenbosch talent and this is what Botman so dearly desired.”

Stellenbosch University’s team, Maties, campaign in the SAB Regional League (South Africa’s fourth tier). Their technical partnership with PEC Zwolle continues to grow from strength to strength.

Johan van Geijn, director of World Coaches, a KNVB programme that trains coaches and builds soccer fields as a legacy of the 2010 World Cup, reflected on his interaction with the professor, saying it had been a real privilege

to have worked with the inspirational leader.

Acting vice-chancellor at the University of Stellenbosch Prof Louis van Huyssteen said: “The opening of this mini soccer field is both a special and sad occasion.

“We know how much soccer meant to him. Russel would have been over the moon today.”

The day was also celebrate with NGO Girls & Football SA, the NGO is Working hard to empower young women through sports. Women’s rights are one of the minsters key priorities. The KNVB is also committed to women empowerment and trains at least 25% female coaches.

The project hopes to further develop relationships between Girls & Football SA, Innovus, Stellenbosch University, Forwardzone, KNVB, PEC Zwolle, Philips Lighting and Greenfields Artificial Turf