Chery South Africa is turning support for Bafana Bafana into direct investment in community football through a new Chery Fund initiative aimed at grassroots clubs across the country.
As South Africa prepares to compete on the world’s biggest football stage at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Chery Fund will launch a dedicated football development programme designed to assist community and development-driven clubs that play a vital role in nurturing young talent, creating safe recreational spaces, and keeping the game accessible in under-resourced areas.
To kick-start the initiative, the Chery Fund will commit an initial R500,000 towards community football development. In addition, the Fund will contribute R50,000 for every goal scored by South Africa during the tournament.
This means every goal scored by Bafana Bafana will have an impact beyond the pitch. Each South African goal will increase the size of the development fund, creating more opportunities for aspiring footballers and strengthening the clubs that support them at the grassroots level.
For many young South Africans, football starts on community fields, school grounds, dusty pitches, and local club facilities where coaches, volunteers, and parents give their time to keep the game alive.
It is in these spaces that young players first learn discipline, teamwork, confidence, and the belief that their talent can take them further. Through the Chery Fund, the campaign will help support the clubs and community football structures that make those early opportunities possible.
The funding will be used to provide practical support where it is needed most, from kits, equipment, goalposts and pitch maintenance to coaching development, youth tournaments, transport, player wellness, and improved access to the game for under-resourced communities.
For Chery, the campaign is about using the country’s World Cup support to do something useful at the community level.
While Bafana Bafana carries South African hopes on the world stage, local football continues every week on school fields, municipal grounds, and community pitches across the country. These are the places where coaches, volunteers, referees, and parents give young players the chance to train, compete, stay active, and be part of something positive.
Through the Chery Fund, the campaign will help support that work. It will put funding behind the clubs and community structures that keep football going long after the tournament’s final whistle.
“Every goal scored by South Africa on the world stage will represent more than a moment of celebration,” commented Tony Liu, CEO of Chery South Africa. “Through the Chery Fund, each goal will help grow the support available to grassroots football clubs and the young players they serve. This initiative allows us to combine national pride with tangible, long-term community development.”
As South Africa gets behind the national team, Chery is proud to help turn every goal into an opportunity for community impact. Through the Chery Fund, the company is investing not only in the future of football but in the communities, young people, and dreams that make the beautiful game so powerful.
Sleek Zelda
The dubious honor of being called the worst Test batsman belongs to New Zealand’s Chris Martin. He has a poor batting average and only ever achieved double figures once. He was so bad that he even starred in an ad for Pulp Sport spoofing his (lack of) batting skills.
JK Friend
Richie McCaw, a former All Blacks captain, is one of the most capped rugby players in history, with 148 international appearances. He is also a three-time winner of the World Rugby Player of the Year award (2006, 2009, and 2010).