Standard Bank today announced a big shift in its annual Schools Sports Festivals. The brand, which has sponsored these highly-anticipated rugby events since 2008, says it’s proud to have incorporated a host of sporting codes to create a bigger platform for school sport excellence across the country.
From 16 March to 29 April, fans of school sports have been witnessing the action live from either the side-lines or the comfort of their couch as teams from Heronbridge College, St Mary’s School, St John’s College, King Edward VII, St Stithians College, Wynberg Boys High School, Grey High School, and Kearsney College, battle it out on the court and across the field, in sports including tennis, hockey, netball, and of course, rugby. The prize? The kind of school pride and bragging rights that can only be associated with years of competition.
“Our purpose is to drive Africa’s growth. We feel there’s no better place to start than at the innate talent that exists amongst young people across the country. For many, this platform is not only recognition of being amongst the best (these youngsters work hard to be selected for their schools’ first teams), it’s also a rite of passage, a stepping stone to their dreams – whether that’s senior-level sports participation, or simply affirmation that hard work pays off, the value derived from the festival sets them up for the next chapters of their lives,” says Lindy-Lou Alexander, Brand & Marketing Head for Consumer and High Net Worth at Standard Bank.
“For more than a decade the festivals have been key in providing a platform for school rugby excellence. We feel extending the same opportunity to other sports is therefore a natural – and necessary – progression, as it will allow even more young people to demonstrate their talents on a highly-competitive level, build their confidence through the sport they love, and of course, find and cement bonds with their community of fellow players,” Alexander continues.
Standard Bank is no stranger to supporting sports and culture within the youth segment. From the Standard Bank Young Artists, to the Pro-Am Sunshine Tour and European Challenge Tour, the bank’s commitment to empowering and developing the youth through sponsorship is evident. It continues to enter into several impactful partnerships that enable it pursue its mandate of investing in the youth to help them achieve their dreams..
“This sponsorship highlights our commitment to building the highest performing diverse teams and to celebrating the amazing young girls and boys who participate in various sports at a school level. We look forward to the continued success of all of the teams in the coming years as we have proudly done for more than a decade,” Lindy-Lou Alexander, Brand & Marketing Head for Consumer and High Net Worth at Standard Bank.
