M.A. (Fundamental Communications) / This research study investigated different practices defining and yet differentiating soccer supporters in various parts of Johannesburg. It highlights the major converging and diverging practices of the fanatics when communicating within the same and with different groups, publicly united by the objective of watching soccer. Participant observations and in-depth interviews were the two major techniques used to gather data which was thematically and comparatively analysed. While the foundational goal of the research were significant communication practices amongst soccer fans, findings from the study were more skewed towards diversity in socio-cultural attributes as evident amongst the fans the researcher engaged with. These were encountered at public places where soccer lovers from the north, south and central Johannesburg get together. There were Zambian, Zimbabwean and the dominant South African amongst the different groups of soccer fans. There were men and women speaking the English language in diverse accents with some even seeking pardon for diluting it with their native languages. Soccer teams that they support such as Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa, as well as English and Spanish teams in Liverpool and Barcelona respectively, all exemplified multiplicity. The neighbourhood, within which each PVA is located, where individuals converge at Maponya Mall, Rosebank Bowling Club, Joubert City Park, Dollars Pub & Restaurant in Berea, and Mbanjwa.s Place in Naturena, south of Johannesburg, also determined the kinds of fans the researcher encountered, and the way they converged and/or diverged in their communication.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Sport Management in the Faculty of Business at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2013 / Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA) initiated a national Club Development Programme (CDP) in 2006. Its aim is to increase sport participation, physical activity, talent identification and fast-track the development of community clubs in South Africa. The CDP has numerous sporting codes: football, netball, cricket, athletics, rugby and aquatics. Football is the main focus for this study because the majority of clubs in the CDP are football associated. There is a perception amongst football clubs that some clubs receive more attention and support in terms of development as compared to others in the CDP. Therefore, the aim of the research is to identify key factors that affect the delivery of the CDP within selected football community clubs in the Cape Metropole. In total, nineteen CDP community football clubs were studied. In each club, key stakeholders such as the chairperson/president, secretary/administrator, captain/vice captain and volunteer/coach were targeted to receive questionnaires, totalling seventy six with fifty seven usable questionnaires returned. Fourteen face-to-face structured interviews were conducted with experienced and key CDP officials representing the three spheres of South African government. The respondents indicated that the CDP has not exceeded their expectations, mainly because of the following: community clubs are still waiting for equipment; a lack of experts to identify talent; lack of motivation from the CDP officials; lack of competency of the CDP officials in terms of their capacity to liaise with stakeholders and develop mechanisms to review the programmes’ impact. CDP appears to be largely ineffective within communities due to a lack of communication, qualified and competent personnel, talent identification, motivation from the CDP coordinators, education and training as well a review mechanism system. Therefore, it is critical for CDP management to ensure that communication systems improve; qualified and suitable personnel are recruited to assist with the programmes’ implementation; talent identification programme is developed; there should be incentive programmes and ongoing sustainable activities throughout the year, as well as structured social leagues in communities where people live; all CDP coordinators need to undergo training to improve their implementation skills; the review mechanism system needs to be developed and effectively implemented within the communities; and the mechanism system should be periodically monitored and evaluated to objectively assess the impact of the programme within communities.

Football as the most popular sport, serves as a medium through which development issues can be addressed in a variety of ways. The potential and limitations of sport as a vehicle for change are widely recognized for informing YDF and partner organisations for change and capacity building at all levels of engagement. The YDF on HIV prevention project brought about a close working relationship between GIZ/YDF, Volkswagen groups South Africa, NGO’s, federations and government institutions. Volkswagen formed a PPP (Public Private Partnership) to promote HIV prevention among the youth in the Eastern Cape Province. The aim of the cooperation was to raise awareness and improve the knowledge of the youth on HIV prevention. The project combined peer education through football with life-skills education on HIV Prevention in schools. The present study aimed at evaluating the impact and effectiveness of the YDF project in addressing HIV prevention awareness in the selected schools of Nelson Mandela Bay. The sample consisted of fifty grades six and seven learners of the ages of twelve and over. In this mixed methods research, both qualitative and quantitative methods were used and data was collected by means of questionnaires and interviews where pre and post-test studies were conducted. The results suggest that there has been an improvement in the learners’ awareness and therefore the YDF on HIV prevention programme has been effective in improving the participants’ level of HIV prevention awareness in Nelson Mandela Bay. These findings should make a meaningful contribution to the debate on sports based participation programmes on HIV/AIDS education, with regard to the stakeholders and implementing parties, as well as to the public.