Atmosphere got a taste of South Africa’s vibrant soccer world when we announced our client Sanlam’s latest sponsorship, the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Cup on 4 Feb -  the biggest sponsorship in the history of South African schools football.Valued at R30-million over five years, it is co-funded by Sanlam, the Motsepe Foundation and the Sanlam Ubuntu Botho Community Development Trust. Our Joburg team sprang into action to put together the media launch in just three days. Attended by bigwigs Patrice Motsepe, King Zwelithini and Johan van Zyl (CEO Sanlam), the launch was the start of a major injection into the development of soccer excellence in SA schools.

Launch of the biggest schools football sponsorship in South Africa R30-million sponsorship incorporating R3.4-million annual prize money for Kay Motsepe Cup

Sandton, South Africa, 4 February 2010:

The development of soccer in South African schools was given strong impetus today when the Motsepe Foundation announced financial services group Sanlam as naming rights sponsor of its national schools football competition. The sponsorship of R30-million over five years is co-funded by Sanlam, the Motsepe Foundation and the Sanlam Ubuntu Botho Community Development Trust. This is the biggest sponsorship in the history of South African schools football. The announcement was made by Patrice Motsepe at the launch of the 2010 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup (previously the Kay Motsepe Cup) in Sandton today.

The launch was attended by representatives of the National Ministries of Basic Education and Sports, as well as the Provincial MEC’s of Education and Sports, King Zwelithini, other kings, traditional leaders, prominent leaders in football, business, trade union organisations and football legends.

Founded in 2004 and named after Motsepe’s late mother, the Kay Motsepe Cup has grown to become the premier high schools football competition in South Africa. With its primary objective being to develop and promote the culture of football excellence at schools and to contribute towards uniting South Africa’s youth through football.  It is expected that more than 4000 schools from all nine provinces will participate in the 2010 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup on a regional, provincial and national basis.

Johan van Zyl, Group CEO of Sanlam says, “We strongly share the Motsepe Foundation’s belief that soccer is a nation-builder, and that the growth of soccer, through the development and enhancement of youth football and life skills, will contribute immeasurably to this country’s future. Sanlam is therefore extremely excited to join this competition as one of the three major sponsors.  We are looking forward to making a contribution to elevating the professionalism of our country’s football and to ensuring that the talented players in South Africa are given the chance to reach their true potential.”

Patrice Motsepe, Chairman of the Motsepe Foundation and the Sanlam Ubuntu Botho Community Development Trust, says, “The annual prize money of R3.4 million will be used to improve the educational facilities and develop football at the winning schools. We are delighted to welcome our new co-sponsors. Sanlam and the Sanlam Ubuntu Botho Community Development Trust share our vision of making every school in South Africa a centre of football excellence. We are confident that the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup will contribute towards developing the future Bafana Bafana stars and ensuring that South African football is amongst the best in Africa and the world.”

The winning school will receive R1 million and the other prizes are:

Second Prize:             R 600 000

Third Prize:                  R 500 000

Fourth Prize:               R 400 000

The nine provincial winners of the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Provincial Schools Cup will each receive R100 000. The two top schools from every province will participate in a four day competition after the 2010 Football World Cup to determine the winner of the 2010 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup and the winners of the various other prize monies.

The President of the South African Schools Football Association (SASFA), Mandla “Shoes” Mazibuko says, “Our partnership with the Kay Motsepe Cup has contributed immensely to the development of schools football in South Africa. We are excited that Sanlam and the Sanlam Ubunto Botho Community Development Trust decided to partner with the Kay Motsepe Cup. The partnership that we are all building could not have come at a better time because this year South Africa is hosting the 2010 Football World Cup.”

The 2010 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup will kick off on 20 February 2010 and schools at district level will participate on a knock-out basis leading to the provincial and national finals in August 2010.