Business must play greater role in soccer

Business must play greater role in soccer

Johannesburg - Businesses should play a greater role in the soccer industry in South Africa ahead of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup™ and beyond, says Chief Executive Officer of the GEDA Keith Khoza.

"When you look at soccer you must look at it as an economic sector that has great potential for job and wealth creation, and there is definitely a role for business to play in funding the sport and investing in the sport," said the Gauteng Economic Development Agency's (GEDA) CEO, at a seminar on the role of business in soccer.

The CEO said by involving business in the sport it could contribute positively to the continuous development of the sport in South Africa.

Mr Khoza highlighted that funding in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) was a challenge at the moment, with some of the players said to be earning as little as R1 000 a month.

Players in the PSL are threatening to go on strike if money that enters the top levels of soccer does not filter down into developing the sport and providing the professional sportsmen with decent salaries.

MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Barbara Creecy told the seminar that Gauteng must take advantage of the upcoming world cup in terms of stimulating job and wealth creation, as well as promoting shared economic growth.

The MEC highlighted that Soccerex must be fully utilised to showcase the province and the country's opportunities.

Soccerex is a business-to-business convention that facilitates local business involvement dedicated to a professional inter-business soccer environment.

"We estimate that Soccerex will inject about R7 billion into Gauteng's economy with a massive downstream benefit of creating jobs in the province.

"Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises will also have an opportunity to attend the Soccerex and showcase their business," said Ms Creecy.

She said the department's primary concern is ensuring a lasting legacy in the province and is therefore investing in infrastructure, transport, emergency services and stadia.

Ms Creecy said the Gauteng Tourism authority is set to be one of the major boom industry's in the province as a result of the world cup.

The MEC said she hoped that "we will pave the way for partnerships that will lead to sustainable soccer development in the country."