AMC on the ball with soccer sponsorship
THE African Movement Congress (AMC) will be on the ball this weekend when its founding presidential leader, Roy Chockalingam Moodley, writes a cheque for R150 000 in a sports funding act for the soccer-crazy community of Phoenix.
The former CEO of Royal Security, an established, independently owned safety and security service provider based on the edge of Mount Edgecombephoenix, and well-known horseracing personality, confirmed that the AMC will focus on a sports and recreation portfolio ahead of the May 29 national, provincial and regional elections.
Moodley confirmed sponsorship of R150 000 for the provincial tournament that will officially be launched at the Siphosuthu Road sports ground on the former Old Mill Road in Mount Edgecombe on Saturday afternoon.
“Politics and parliamentary participation and representation has to include sports, arts and recreation to build a new society of cultural diversity and hope for the future,” said Moodley.
Moodley, whose political involvement in Phoenix and umhlanga has spanned four decades, is the AMC’S presidential candidate.
His passion is horse racing, football and sports.
Moodley said that in the current climate of economic woes and the total lack of jobs for our young adults and youth, it is crucial to find an alternative to get this important sector of our population focused on playing sports. Moodley believes that football is the way forward.
“I can assure this historic community of soccer that these participating communities will produce national caps for the Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana national squads,” he said.
The AMC will unveil its new manifesto aimed at rescuing the country’s sagging economy and lack of socioeconomic opportunities, particularly for the marginalised communities of Phoenix and the INK cluster – Inanda, Newtown and Kwamashu – and other inner-city suburbs and townships where there is unemployment and poverty.
Moodley’s wingman is popular former anti-apartheid activist Seelan Achary of Phoenix, who is the AMC premier candidate in the seventh polls.
Achary began his antiestablishment activism against unjust laws and sports racism in local football: his political candidacy comes out of a historic involvement in the broader communities. He cut his teeth in school protests and politics in 1980 and led the student protests against inferior education policies and poor teacher salaries.
He turned to football management and coached Collegians, Blue Stars, Oceans and Young Springboks beginning in 1987; has been the head of the Shri Mariammen Temple Society since 1997 and served the Phoenix Child Welfare Society, Phoenix Youth Centre, Phoenix Interfaith Forum and the North Coast Diwali Celebrations Committee. He has been the face of the 1860 Commemoration Council since 1999. He recently criticised the ANC provincial government and City council about the erection of a bell, budgeted at R10 million 10 years ago, rather than a bronze statue to honour the 1860 semi-slaves who contributed to growing the sugar industry economy. MARLAN PADAYACHEE | Durban