Soccerex
has announced a new agreement with the English Premier League and the British
Council which will see the hosting of a Premier Skills showcase event alongside
the Soccerex African Forum 2013, which takes place in Durban on October 1-2.
Premier Skills is a global partnership between the British
Council and the Premier League which uses football as a tool to engage with and
develop the skills of young people. One of its core aims is to improve the
quality of local football by providing face-to-face training for grassroots
coaches and referees, using highly skilled coach and referee trainers from the
Premier League and its clubs. The showcase event will see more than 20 local
amateur coaches from the Province of KwaZulu-Natal benefit from a three day
programme of practical pitch and classroom-based activities, as well as attend
some of the conference panels and keynote speeches at the African Forum itself.
The Premier League will also be outlining the objectives of the
programme and the opportunities it brings as part of the African Forum
conference programme. Tim Vine, head of public affairs at the Premier League,
said: “We are very pleased to be involved in the Soccerex Africa Forum in
Durban again, this time showcasing to delegates the positive impact Premier
Skills is having across the continent. Premier Skills is at the forefront
of our international development strategy and it is in Africa, working in
partnership with the British Council, National Governments and Football
Associations, that it having the most widespread effect. Over these next three
years we plan to take Premier Skills on a significant step in Africa, further
developing it in existing countries and expanding it into new ones. The
Soccerex Africa Forum provides us with the opportunity to not only promote the
hugely positive impact the project can have, but to also engage with many of
the key decision makers in Africa in one place.”
Soccerex CEO Duncan Revie
added: “It is great to have the Premier League involved with our African Forum
once again and we are delighted to be working with the British Council. The
development of football in Africa is a key theme for the event and the
inclusion of this Premier Skills showcase, alongside contributions from CAF
(Confederation of African Football) and the South African Ministry of Sport,
only strengthens this focus.” For further information about the Soccerex Africa
Forum call +44 (0)208 987 5522 or visit www.soccerex.com/africa.
