Nedbank’s Go Green Fund sponsors Global United Football Club in support of climate change action

At a press conference at Nedbank’s Business Centre, Erastus Hoveka (Managing Director: Nedbank Namibia) was joined by several local dignitaries and parliamentarians, and Lutz Pfannestiel (Founder of Global United Football Club (GUFC)) to celebrate the arrival of 29 international football stars, including Mark De Vries, Geert Brusselers, Paul Bosvelt and Michel van der Gaag from the Netherlands, who took part in two friendly exhibition matches at Independence Stadium in Windhoek on 26 May 2010.

The players from all over the world played in two show matches; the first of which was a 45-minute game between the African Stars and the GUFC team, and the second between the African Legends (GUFC Africa) and the ‘Rest of the World’ team in a 60-minute game.

GUFC is a football project comprising more than 200 of the world’s most famous former football players and coaches. Its mission is to fight global warming by playing exhibition matches at various worldwide locations affected by climate change.

Lutz Pfannestiel (Founder of Global United FC) shared the reasoning behind the initiation of the GUFC. “I have been blessed during my sporting career to have travelled all over the world and have seen some beautiful places, but also the impact of global warming on the climate and environment. It was an easy decision to make then; to set up this unique and special charity that uses football to highlight awareness of climate change and generate funds for causes that are working to combat the impacts and effects of this looming global crisis.”

Pfannestial noted that the GUFC also wanted to use the opportunity presented by the exhibition matches in Windhoek to create some World Cup fever in Namibia. “Having Nedbank Namibia as main sponsor is a real blessing for us as the Go Green Fund fits into the concept behind the GUFC.”

Nedbank’s Go Green Fund is a unique, non-profit, grant-making fund that was established to conserve and protect and sustainably develop the natural resources of Namibia for the benefit of all Namibians. A significant – and growing – strategic focus area of the Go Green Fund is the provision of funding and support for climate action and global warming mitigation projects.

In his address, Erastus Hoveka highlighted the fact that the new partnership between the Go Green fund and GUFC was designed to raise awareness of climate change, as well as the various Go Green initiatives and, of course, to celebrate what Pelé calls, ‘the beautiful game’ – football.

Hoveka said that “Nedbank Namibia does not believe in cheque book philanthropy, but rather believes in cementing alliances with organisations that can demonstrate good value for dollars spent – investments that deliver for the future of the Namibian environment. That is why Nedbank Namibia views its partnership with the GUFC in such a favourable light.”

Proceeds from tickets sales for the exhibition matches are to be donated to various projects within the purvey of the Go Green programme and GUFC projects. With a value in excess of N$350 000, grants from the Go Green Fund will be allocated to four key projects at an event to be held just prior to the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, namely:

• The Namibia Dolphin Project;
• The Namibia Desert Environmental Education Trust (NaDEET);
• A Scientific study towards Spotted Hyena’s & Human Wildlife Conflict in the Caprivi Region; and
• The Development of a Holistic Management Strategy for Fisheries of the Zambian River and the Eastern Caprivi Floodplains.

Apart from dedicating grants via the Go Green Fund to these four projects, Nedbank Namibia also provided a generous N$100 000 sponsorship towards the GUFC event held at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek.

Dr. Libertine Amathila (former Deputy Prime Minister: Namibia) was thrilled to see the GUFC encouraging youth to take an active interest in football and the environment. Honourable Pohamba Shifeta (Deputy Minister: Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture) said that it was “wonderful to see that Namibia is a leader in highlighting climate change as a very serious international concern.” Honourable Agnes Tjongarero (Member of Parliament and President of the Namibia National Olympic Committee) commented that she was “delighted to see the work that Nedbank is doing to fight environmental concerns through the Go Green Fund.”

Hoveka concluded by thanking the GUFC for their commitment to both sport and the Namibian people through the global warming awareness programme and Dr. Libertine Amathila, Honourable Pohamba Shifeta and Honourable Agnes Tjongarero for agreeing to be ambassadors for the Go Green Fund and Nedbank Namibia at the forthcoming FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Dignitaries at the media conference front from l to r: Hon. Pohamba Shifeta (Deputy Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture); Erastus Hoveka (Managing Director: Nedbank Namibia), Hon. Agnes Tjongarero (Member of Parliament and President of the Namibia National Olympic Committee); Dr Libertine Amathila (former Deputy Prime Minister of Namibia); and Lutz Pfannenstiel (Founder of GUFC). Back row, from l to r: GUFC players Michel van der Gaag; Geert Brusselers; Paul Bosvelt; and Mark de Vries.

Deputy Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport & Culture, Hon. Pohamba Shifeta, speaks at the media event to highlight the partnership between Nedbank Namibia and Global United Football Club.

Former Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Libertine Amathila, addresses media at the event.

Lutz Pfannenstiel, founder of Global United Football Club, speaks at the press conference. Lutz is a Guinness world record holder as the only professional soccer player to have played for football clubs in each of the six FIFA Continental Confederations. He has played in – amongst others – Malaysia; New Zealand; Norway; Brazil; Germany; the United Kingdom; Finland; Canada and Namibia.

Erastus Hoveka (Managing Director: Nedbank Namibia) addresses media at the press conference and highlights the need for climate change action.