Spain’s top-flight football league, La Liga, marked its tenth year on the African continent with a celebratory gathering at MultiChoice’s headquarters in Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa (SA), on Wednesday evening.

The milestone comes after a decade of growing involvement in African football, from youth programmes and community projects to long-running partnerships with broadcasters and local associations in countries across the region.

Speaking at the event, Tresor Penku, La Liga’s Africa Football Director, said the league has tried to ensure its work on the continent has a lasting impact rather than being reduced to one-off initiatives.

“Every project we’ve carried out in Africa is meant to be meaningful and to open doors for young people,” Penku said. “Football has enormous power to inspire, and we’re very deliberate about using that influence to support communities right across the continent.”

He noted that while La Liga draws its resources and support from Spain, its operations in Africa are anchored in long-term relationships with local partners.

La Liga first set up its African office in 2014. Since then, it has broadened its reach through training programmes, talent-development initiatives and collaborations aimed at strengthening football structures in several African countries.

–ChannelAfrica–