Picture: The local philanthropist, Tshidi Moreane donated soccer kits to Morning Stars FC/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
Morning Stars Football Club caretaker coach, Kagiso Itholeng from Mokgareng village, near Taung, said they welcome the donation of new soccer kits. This comes after a local philanthropist, Tshidi Moreane donated a full-fledged soccer kit on Thursday.
Itholeng said this will boost the confidence of the players ahead of the much-anticipated Top 8 Soccer Tournament that will take place over the weekend. He further said he is contented to see some businesspeople heeding a helping hand in the quest of developing a grassroots football because that is rare.
“It is not often to see local businesspeople investing in local football. So, we are happy to see that people like Moreane are changing the narrative. We do have an abundance of talent at Morning Stars FC, but lack of financial muscle creates a stagnant.
“What I like is that Moreane also shared words of encouragement with the players. I am certain that they will take their craft seriously and focus. We will be embarking on a tournament this weekend and we hope the donation will be a morale-booster for them,” he said.
Meanwhile, Moreane said the donation that was made under Tshidi Moreane Foundation and Lesedi 7 Group, will encourage players to work harder knowing that, there is unwavering support out there from locals. He added that locals must support grassroots football teams and urge all local businesspeople around Taung to be involved in advancing local talents.
“This is part of our plough back at Lesedi 7 Group and Tshidi Moreane Foundation. One thing that I know, Taung has an abundance of talent and all that is needed is to nurture it. By giving unwavering support to our football clubs, we will create a chance for these players to have the confidence to break through the ranks and ply their trade in elite leagues.
“Also, it is beneficiary if local soccer teams have sponsors or financial muscle because it will enable them to buy all necessary tools such as team kits, equipment, or transportation. If you have not handled something like this before, it can be challenging and feels like a time-consuming task too,” he said.
As a former player, Moreane encouraged players not to indulge in alcohol and drug abuse as that would harm their careers.
“We have outlined what we are going to do for the team in the future, including what process to use in attracting more investors. As a former player, I urge local businesses to be involved, as well as look into some of the benefits this can have for the grassroots teams.
“We understand the challenges the local teams are having in securing sponsors, so that is why we’re starting with the basics. We do not have enough players who ply their trade in elite leagues and that narrative should be challenged,” said Moreane.
He said the sponsorship is important for football clubs as it can help to fund necessities and ensure the clubs continue to run. Moreane said if a club has to stop running due to lack of funds, this can limit the sporting opportunities in the area and can mean that players will potentially have to travel long distances to find another club.
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