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Sunderland AFC continues South African football link

Sunderland AFC has continued its commitment to community football in Africa this week as club representative visits South Africa.

Sunderland’s Head of International Football Development, Graham Robinson, has seen the continuation of the Premier Skills journey in South Africa come full circle as four qualified coach educators, who graduated from the global initiative, got their first opportunity to pass on their knowledge to a new generation of participants in Cape Town.

The coach educators have been tasked with taking charge of on an introductory three-day course for 37 participants from across the country who are beginning their journey to becoming Premier Skills coach educators themselves.

Premier Skills, the Premier League’s flagship international good causes project, was launched in 2007 and is delivered in partnership with the British Council. It now operates in countries across Asia, Africa and the Americas and creates training opportunities for grassroots coaches and referees.

As part of SAFC’s activities in South Africa, Sunderland AFC will also feature at the Barclays Premier League Live event at Camps Bay High School, Cape Town on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 March.

Graham Robinson said: “This course will give me an opportunity to observe the facilitating of the three day course in order to quality assure the planning and delivery of practical and theory sessions.

“Following the conclusion of this course it is hoped that with support from the British Council, our new coach educators will be tasked with delivering at least one -three, four or five day- course a month for grassroots coaches across the country during the next eight months

“These are exciting times for everyone involved and the future looks bright for the continued growth of our Premier Skills programme.”

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