Africa-Press – Eswatini. Moneni Pirates has hit a jackpot of E135 000 in educational bursary for its players.
The bursary is from dot. Media, a leading billboard company in the country. The deal will span for 10 years and will benefit Pirates’ schoolgoing players. The partnership was launched yesterday at IF’s Lounge in Moneni. The dot. Media Company Director, Makhosandile Simelane, said that the bursary was part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. “We are offering scholarships for Pirates players at the tune of E135 000 for a period of 10 years. Even vulnerable children stand to benefit from the School Fees Bursary initiative, and in this case, sports became a beneficiary. We have an agreement with them such as leasing land to erect some of our billboards in return,” Simelane said.
The ‘Sea Robbers’, as Pirates are affectionately called, will be entitled to an annual budget of about E13 500. However, the bursary will kick-off with E15 000 this year. Currently, a quartet stands to benefit being the impressive attacking midfielder Yeki ‘Madumane’ Khumalo, Phumlane Shongwe, and the duo of new arrivals in Innocent Pakule and Samu Sithole.
Meanwhile Pirates Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mhlonishwa Motsa expressed their gratitude to dot.Media for their generous gesture. Motsa said it would go a long way in helping them develop and establish a formidable brand. “We have a very youthful pool of players and we are the best team to kick-off their project with as we have the best team, with best players and supporters on land. The sponsorship is also in line with our goal and vision as education is an utmost priority in the team,” the CEO said. The CEO went on to add that education and soccer complemented each other, and that players needed to have a career outside football. He said education would ensure that players had life after football.
Assisting
Speaking on behalf of players, Captain Xolani Ngwenywa said the sponsorship would go a long way in assisting the young players further their education. Ngwenya said this was exciting news for their parents as they would be proud that the team was making some effort to meet them halfway with their education. Sea Robbers will today clash with Mbabane Swallows at 9am at King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium in the Hospice at Home Charity Cup. Manzini Wanderers and Nsingizini Hotspurs will play in the second game in quest to reach the finals on this one day preseason tournament to win the E100 000 winner takes-all prize.
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