MIP, the Bryanston-based financial services administration software developer, is sponsoring the championship winning CIGMA Volleyball Club as part of its ongoing corporate social investment programme.
The club, established in 2002, focuses on volleyball development players at national and regional levels, particularly in Tshwane informal settlements such as Shoshanguve, Mamelodi, Hammanskraal and Tembisa.
"It is critical for all good corporate citizens in South Africa to engage with the community at levels that support sustainable development of the company, groups and individuals," says Don Elliott, sales director at MIP. "By combining our collective energies we build a more prosperous society."
"We have created plans dealing with technical development, game development and communication of the sport to all communities," says Shudley Ryklief, who heads quality assurance and documentation at MIP and is a club member.
Last year the club`s women won the Northern Premier League and came third in the South African National Club Championship, while the men won the Northern Premier League and were runners up in the South African National Club Championship.
2004 saw the men win the Northern Premier League, the Gauteng Super League and the South African National Club Championship. They also finished second in the Southern African Club Championship in Zone 6, which includes Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana.
The women won the Northern Premier League and the South African Development Club Championship, finished second in the Gauteng Super League and were sixth in the South African National Club Championship. Championship successes date back to 2002.
The sponsorship that MIP provides for the club meets a variety of essential needs for the club to perform at the highest level. Besides a substantial monthly financial contribution which covers the basic needs such as food and accommodation for the players, MIP also covers the cost of national tournaments which assists tremendously in keeping the players in a positive train of thought essential for doing well at these competitions.
"Almost every single one of our players is from poorer communities," says Ryklief. "The people don`t have jobs or they are students. But they are also good athletes and we try to accommodate them or help them with taxi fare to get to practice sessions. Also when we do have a tournament we try to get everyone together a month before the event. One of our patrons has a smallholding where we get together to do camps."
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