RES COMMITS E400 000 TO SIYAKHA 1800, SAKHELENE LEAGUES

The Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation (RES) has reaffirmed its commitment to community and youth development through sport, with a renewed sponsorship of E400 00 towards its flagship soccer initiatives - the Siyakha 1800 Youth Soccer Development Programme and the Sakhelene Community Soccer League.  

The announcement was made by RES Corp Managing Director Nick Jackson during a press conference held at the corporations Public Affairs Offices in Simunye yesterday. Jackson said that the sponsorship that allocates E200 00 to each programme reflected the company's continued investment in the empowerment and well-being of young people and communities along its operational areas.  

“RES once again commits E400 000 towards Siyakha 1800 and Sakhelene Leagues with a simple but powerful vision, to give young people to access to structured, high-quality sports development.”, he said. He stated that the corporation was celebrating two major milestones with the 10th anniversary of the Siyakha 1800 Youth Soccer Programme and the 3rd year of the Sakhelene Community Soccer League. He describes these initiatives as more than just sponsorships, emphasising that they were long-term investments in the future of the youth and strength of fence line communities. 

Jackson highlighted that since inception, Siyakha 1800 has been a vehicle for structured, high quality sports development, nurturing talent, building confidence and opening doors for opportunities beyond the soccer field. 

Turning to the Sakhelene Community Soccer League, he noted that the 3-year-old initiative had been a vibrant platform for unity, wellness and local pride, bringing together teams from across 10 communities to promote recreation, mentorship and social cohesion. 

The Managing Director said RES's intent was guided by a philosophy of shared value, where business success  goes hand-in-hand with social progress. 

He added that the company's focus areas included youth empowerment, community engagement, health and wellness, talent development and brand trust. 

Jackson further noted that these programmes align with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 5: Gender Equality, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

He concluded by expressing pride in the corporation's decade-long journey of fostering development through sport, reaffirming RES's commitment to building a healthier, more empowered and inclusive society.