Businessman Jesse Nagiah has his heart set on developing footballers who are equipped to play at the highest levels of the game.
Image: Supplied
For as long as he can remember, Chatsworth businessman Jesse Nagiah has always been passionate about football.
While his days of playing the game are behind him, Nagiah has found ways to provide youngsters with the opportunity to also indulge meaningfully in the sport.
He has become a keen backer of football in Chatsworth, particularly the development of the game among the community’s youth, and has outlayed vast sums of cash over the years to achieve those objectives.
His latest outpouring of generosity was the more than R65 000 he injected into the tournament staged by the Chatsworth Football Association, an affiliate of the South African Football Association, on Saturday.
The event drew nearly 600 children to the Road 515 sportsfield in Croftdene, where 80 games of football were played in a single day during the Nagiah-funded Laboratory Supplies Co. Junior Tournament in the Under 7, Under 9 and Under 11 divisions, and completed in a day.
“It is really amazing to be a part of this spectacular event. Watching the kids on the field of play gives me great joy.”
Chatsworth's participating in the Laboratory Supplies Co. Junior Tournament held at the Road 5151 sportsfield in Croftdene.
Image: Supplied
Nagiah said it would be even more special when some of the youngsters who participated in the tournament reached the highest levels of football.
While the tournament was important for developing footballers, Nagiah said such events were important to produce well-rounded youngsters who were confident, chose healthy lifestyles over society’s negative influences, and also pursued academic excellence.
Nagiah said he spoke to the chairman of the Chatsworth Football Association (Nelson ‘Spinx’ Kuppan) a few weeks ago,and in quick-time the logistical arrangements fell quickly into place.
‘We went with the Under 7, 9 and 11 divisions because those are the crucial years in a footballer’s development, and the matches were played on small-sided pitches so that it encouraged more player engagement.
“I initially looked to invest R20 000 and it eventually grew to around R65 000.”
Nagiah’s passion for football stirred when he was about 5-years-old.
“My father took me to watch a Durban City match in the old National Football League and I have been hooked on the game ever since.
“I used work as a shop-assistant at a store in Bayview (Chatsworth) and I would save my earnings to pay for my travel and entry fee to football matches over the weekend”
Nagiah said he was also an avid follower of the old Federation Professional League matches and supported Aces United, which used 3B’s Westcliff Stadium, Chatsworth) as their home venue.
He was also a diehard supporter of Manning Rangers, another Chatsworth-based professional team, and it was a proud moment when they won the inaugural Premier Soccer League title in 1996.
Nagiah recalled how players like Ivan Selvanathan and Dylin Pillay, both from Chatsworth, represented Manning Rangers in the 1990s, but there has since been a dearth of players from the area rising to those levels.
“That has been a big part of my motivation to get involved with football development in Chatsworth — to produce players who are able to play in the professional leagues.
“It is only through well-planned and properly executed development programmes, which includes proper coaching, infrastructure, equipment, facilities and funding, will we be able to achieve that objective.”
Nagiah has also supported football development initiatives at schools in Chatsworth in the past.
Regarding his partnership with the Chatsworth Football Association, Nagiah said he was committed to another five years of similar investments.
Kuppan said his organisation appreciated Nagiah’s wholehearted contribution over the years.
“There’s no negotiating — he simply asks what is needed and pays for it. That shows he genuinely wants to help children stay off the streets and play football.
“We love entrepreneurs and community-minded people like him who give back to Chatsworth. His support helps us achieve our mandate of developing and growing football.”
Kuppan said the big positives from Saturday’s action was having nearly 600 children playing football and the involvement from parents.
Wesley Narainsamy is the chairman of Brotherhood FC, his Crossmoor-based club’s Under 11 team that participated in the tournament.
Narainsamy, who has had a long association with football in Chatsworth said their youngsters were privileged to participate in such a well organised competition.
“Playing in the tournament is like living a dream for our players because they come from a very underprivileged area. Some of them have even told me they’ve had sleepless nights this past week, in anticipation of the tournament,” said Narainsamy.
DAILY NEWS