ECCO, GUC Sign P180,000 Scholarship Deal
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Monday September 19, 2016 14:59
The players will be studying for a certificate in sales and marketing and commence their studies today. ECCO have 32 players including those from the development side. Seven are working for different companies and the school is compulsory for the rest of their 25 players.According to the GUC academic coordinator in the Francistown campus, Agreement Kagura, the partnership is their way of giving back to the community and it will be extended if both parties continue on the same wavelength.
“Of course there is room for extension. It will depend on both parties, if we are all happy at the end then we will continue,” Kagura said. He said they had always supported ECCO in small ways and when they opened a campus in Francistown they decided to strengthen their relationship.
“Over the years we have assisted the team in different forms with money on a small scale particularly during camps. When we opened here we thought why not give the team something sustainable and what a good way than empowering the players with education,” he said.
ECCO general manager, Mothusi Jowawa expressed excitement over the partnership. He said the players greeted the development with a mixed response.
“This is a milestone for our team, we are grateful to GUC. We are happy for kind sponsorships like this because they also give our players value, even though not all of them are keen on the idea.
“The younger ones are excited while others are still dragging but we continue to engage them and we believe when they start seeing the benefits of this initiative, they will come around,” he said.
One of the beneficiaries, Pontsho Sephutho said he is ecstatic about the prospect of returning to school.
“I left school after I completed my form five. It is a great opportunity to return to the classroom. This will give me something I can fall back on. I love football, it is a first choice for me but I must admit it is a short career, so every footballer needs plan B and school offers that and obviously it will come handy when my football career is over,” he said.