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The community of Mamelodi has welcomed the Pitso Mosimane Foundation’s initiative of reviving sports development in the township through the formation of a football club and soccer schools initiative.
This past weekend, SABC Sport visited the PMF as they hosted the last leg of the trials, which attracted over 3000 kids, to specifically cater to the Pitso Mosimane Football Club (PMFC).
Councilor Diamond Mashau of Ward 23 in Mamelodi says the PMF has invested hundreds of thousands of rands to refurbish a football ground just opposite the International Assemblies Of God church in the area.
"The reason we are supporting the Pitso Mosimane Foundation is that now we are rekindling the meaning of this facility, and that's why we are here and it's a thumbs up to Pitso Mosimane," said Mashau.
"You must remember, this is self-funding from the Pitso Mosimane Foundation of this particular process, and they just came here in Mamelodi Ward 23 and said, 'We are prepared to invest in this particular area.'
"So we said, 'No, you are welcome.' Because, if you check, we have many facilities within our community that are just depleting on a daily basis, they don't have meaning anymore and are just facilities because there are structures there.
"But for Pitso Mosimane Foundation to come and say, 'We are going to invest, and if the city will come and join us while we are busy, it will be a blessing.'
"That's why we have welcomed them with both hands, and the community is happy about this particular process."
After starting with the Pitso Mosimane Soccer Schools (PMSS) last year, the foundation of South Africa’s most successful football coach and three-time African club champion is now moving into the club space through PMFC.
Managing director of MT Sports, Moira Tlhagale outlines the vision of the PMFC and PMSS in 2024 and beyond.
"This year, Curro has increased that [partnerships] to 12, so they've given us 10 more schools, and last year we also had three independent schools – one in Boksburg, Midrand, and North Riding," explained Tlhagale.
"They were also called soccer schools, but what we've done this year is to continue with those soccer schools, but we've now added the Pitso Mosimane Football Club for under-7 to under-15.
"And in addition to that, the three independent schools will have the PMSS and the PMFC, and we have now added the soccer school and football club in Mamelodi."
