Cape Town – South African Minister of Sport Fikile Mbalula is currently on a working visit to Barcelona, Spain, in a bid to solidify relations between South Africa and the Spanish first division, La Liga. Mbalula was hosted by the President of La Liga, Javier Tebas, and the Director of La Liga in Africa, Antonio Barradas.
In a statement, Mbalula, who is in Spain at the invitation of La Liga, said he was pleased by the hospitality of La Liga and their interest in availing their experience, resources and expertise to help the development of football in South Africa.
Mbalula used the opportunity to visit La Liga's football academies and to view the infrastructure and facilities that have make their Spanish League such a huge global success story.
Mbalula took the opportunity to take photographs with Barcelona super stars Lionel Messi and Neymar.
“More needs to be done in transforming our own stadiums into areas of honoring our football legends and centres of economic activity,” said Mbalula on his visit to the Camp Nou, the fabled home of Barcelona FC.
Mbalula said he was impressed at how the stadium was transformed into a hub of economic activity and a living monument that honoured football legends. In concluding his visit, Mbalula will sign a memorandum of understanding that will herald a new chapter between the department of Sport and Recreation South Africa and La Liga for the development of football.
African News Agency (ANA)