Further boost for soccer development

"As World Cup 2010 is Africa's tournament, it is important that we enhance our co-operation with our compatriots and develop talent that will make Africa proud and, at the same time, undermine Afro-pessimism," says Nkosinathi Chonco, group executive at Metropolitan.

Metropolitan currently sponsors the Metropolitan National U19 League, is the official insurance partner to all South Africa's national soccer teams, and supports the SAFA 2010 Vision.

"Through our sponsorship of the Metropolitan National U19 League we have built a strong development platform for soccer in South Africa. Now, with our sponsorship of the COSAFA U20 Championship, we are strengthening this platform beyond our borders," says Chonco.

"The COSAFA U20 Championship is a chance for talented players who are emerging from the National League to move into a more competitive arena and play against other African countries. Metropolitan's sponsorship of the COSAFA U20 Championship means that young players will now have an opportunity to exercise their choice - something that most of them have been historically deprived of."

The COSAFA U20 Championship is an international youth tournament involving the U20 National Teams from 14 southern African countries who compete in a play-off to produce a regional winner. As one of the premier U20 competitions on the African continent, the COSAFA U20 Championship is widely considered by SAFA and Metropolitan as a tournament where future talent for the 2010 World Cup players can be identified.

The COSAFA U20 Championship celebrated its 10th anniversary with 12 teams competing in tournament this year. South Africa won the event in 2000 and 2004 and reached the semi-finals in 2001; 2002; 2003 and 2005. This year, the championship is running 6 - 17 December 2006; the opening match is scheduled for Friday, 8 December.