Johannesburg — Youngsters living in Ekurhuleni are to benefit from a developmental soccer project to be launched in the area on Saturday.

The Dreamfields Soccer Project, which has already been implemented in Klerksdorp and Potechefstroom, will now be brought to Nigel and Duduza to revive soccer among children.

This forms part of efforts to build excitement around the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

A total of 32 boys and girls teams, from more than 20 schools, will this weekend participate in a soccer tournament with a view to a possible roll out to all the schools in Ekurhuleni.

This will tie in with already existing football development initiatives within the municipality, said spokesperson Zweli Dlamini.

The broader Nigel/Duduza Sustainable Development Project involves three channel projects which are housing, skills development and sports development.

The soccer tournament forms part of the first phase of this development project.

"In this phase of the project, football has been identified as a priority in view of the country's preparation for the world cup."

Deputy Minister of Education, Enver Surty referred to the project as "a significant collaborative effort" to create excitement around soccer, after 130 schools throughout the country were successful in getting sponsorship.

The project brings soccer fields, equipment, business skills and new social partnerships to disadvantaged communities across South Africa and will see money raised to upgrade existing sports facilities in townships and rural areas.

New fields are to be built in at least 32 regional soccer centres by the end of 2010.

New facilities earmarked included the Cape Flats in Cape Town, Venda in Limpopo, and Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal.

Feasibility studies were conducted on improving facilities in the Northern Cape and the Vaal Triangle in late 2007.

The Dreamfields Project also works with government and others to bring coaching and sports management skills programmes to communities.