Three years ago, one of the oldest local football associations, the Edendale Football Association (EFA), made a desperate plea for sponsorship and support for local football. The Wadley Stadium-based EFA launched a sponsorship campaign, appealing to local businesses to help save the game at amateur level. Vilakazi said hundreds of junior and senior players are officially affiliated with the EFA, yet the association lacks essential equipment and clubs are forced to rely on it for support.
“We are somehow in a catch-22 situation. We encourage local clubs, especially youth teams, to join us officially, yet we don’t have the required equipment to play the game. The teams are also struggling and cannot afford to buy training equipment,” said Vilakazi.
On Sunday, National First Division side Midlands Wanderers FC chairperson Vincent “Masenti” Myeni assisted by donating a new pair of goalposts. Vilakazi said the EFA was grateful for the donation, which would go a long way in developing the game, adding that Wadley Stadium had not had proper goalposts for several years. This is an important tool of the game — there is no football without goalposts.
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These will last for years and will play a major role in developing the game. “The reality is that we have not had proper goalposts for the past three or four years. As the association and clubs, we are truly thankful to Myeni and Midlands Wanderers,” he said.
Myeni, who is also the Wanderers’ head coach, said he was moved after attending a festive-season tournament where a goalkeeper was badly injured when old goalposts collapsed during a match. “As someone who grew up in poor conditions at Happy Valley, I told myself something had to be done because someone is going to die here. Whenever possible, I will always extend a helping hand.
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