Premier League celebrates long-term commitment to South Africa

For the last 18 years, the Premier League and the British Council have worked in partnership through the Premier Skills programme to develop the skills of coaches, educators and referees in 29 countries around the world.

That commitment to inspire grassroots coaches and to provide a brighter future for young people continued this week with a special Premier Skills event held in South Africa's Western Cape at a Spaces4Sports facility which has been rejuvenated with the help of Premier League funding.

The Premier League first invested in the Gansbaai facility in 2008 and since then 4,300 people have used the space on a weekly basis. Further Premier League funding of £100,000 has enabled the recent installation of a new artificial grass playing surface.

"The celebration was a fantastic event and testament to the Premier League's investment in people and places both in the UK and across the globe," said Nick Perchard, Director of Community at the Premier League.

"The positive social impact of Premier League football is felt well beyond the game itself and we are committed to supporting those who need us the most."

The Premier Skills event, delivered by the Premier League and the British Council, was led by community coaches from Arsenal and Everton and provided theory and practical training to equip 31 teachers with the confidence and skills to deliver high-quality sport and physical education sessions.

Also in attendance in Gansbaai, a coastal town located two hours south of Cape Town, was former Charlton Athletic striker Shaun Bartlett who watched on as the teachers put their new skills into action with nearly 90 local school children.

"The British Council's ambition in South Africa is to foster enduring connections and trust between the people of the UK and South Africa," said British Council Country Director George Barrett.

"Our shared passion for sport, particularly football, plays a pivotal role in achieving this goal. We're delighted to partner with the Premier League to strengthen ties between our two nations and drive positive change in the lives of individuals, schools, and communities, as exemplified by our work here in Gansbaai."

All the action took place at the Spaces4Sports facility, which has the new surface thanks to investment from the Premier League as well as Rhino-Turf, the Grootbos Foundation and the Overstrand Municipality to ensure its continued use by the local community.

"We couldn't be prouder of the world class artificial pitch which will transform the lives of Gansbaai's youth," said Grootbos Foundation Founder Michael Lutzeyer.

"This field has levelled the playing field, so our township children have the opportunities to play sport and compete at the highest level. Without the Premier League, this dream of a community space to uplift communities and transform lives, would not have been possible."

As part of the celebrations, Gansbaai resident and Premier Skills Coach Mziyanda Matiwane was recognised as a Premier League Community Captain for his decade-long participation in Premier Skills and commitment to community development.

Bartlett presented Mziyanda with a Premier League Community Captain football shirt, armband and trophy.

Premier League Community Captains form part of More than a game, which celebrates individuals in Premier League-funded programmes for their commitment to football and society. The Community Captain award recognises those who make significant contributions to the game and their communities.

About Premier Skills

Since 2007, the Premier League and British Council have worked together to develop the skills of more than 40,000 football coaches, referees and educators, working with more than 2.1 million children and young people.

The Premier League has supported community development in South Africa since 2008 when they first invested in Spaces4Sports facility as part of the 2010 FIFA World Cup celebrations across South Africa.

Since 2013, the Premier League and the British Council have supported more than 3,500 educators and coaches, across six South African provinces. As a result, more than 117,000 children and young people have benefitted from more engaging sport and physical education.