Swallows take DRINKiQ pledge in Soweto

The Brandhouse DRINKiQ responsible alcohol consumption programme, which is being run in partnership with the South African Football Players Union, took its roadshow to Moroka Swallows at the Volkswagen Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto this week.
The Brandhouse DRINKiQ workshops aim to educate players about alcohol use and misuse and enable them to become ambassadors for responsible drinking so they can help South Africans to make the right choices.
“As advertising regulations are being reformed, we need to ensure that we preserve space for alcohol companies to partner with the sporting fraternity to promote responsible drinking. Social responsibility campaigns such as DRINKiQ are a growing aspect of sports sponsorship,” says Norman Reyneker, corporate relations director at Brandhouse.
Among the soccer players who participated in the workshop were the captain of Moroka Swallows and former Bafana Bafana midfielder Lefa Tsutsulupa, Joseph Makhanya and David Mathebula.
Moroka Swallows brand and communications manager Siyabonga Sangweni said: “More and more players are faced with challenges of alcohol abuse. An initiative of this nature is important in empowering players to make the correct decisions.”
The Brandhouse DRINKiQ sport initiative is endorsed by the South African Football Players Union.
Haraipha “Simba” Marumo, who is the president of the union, said: “We are really proud to be part of this initiative. Alcohol abuse is a problem in South Africa, across all communities – and this includes the sporting fraternity. The subject of the Brandhouse DRINKiQ workshop is very close to my heart and I lend it my full support.”
The DRINKiQ workshops are part of training sessions planned for professional and grassroots soccer teams across South Africa. The workshops are designed to teach consumers to understand how alcohol affects them so that they can make informed choices and consequently choose to drink responsibly.
Brandhouse is planning to extend its DRINKiQ programme to all sporting codes throughout the country.

In the picture above are: Simba Marumo, president of the South Africa Football Players Union and a former player for Inter Milan, Mamelodi Sundowns and Platinum Stars; Cleo Phewa, nutritionist for the DRINKiQ sessions; and Nimrod Nkosi: DRINKiQ MC.