Chery South Africa Pledges R500,000 Grassroots Football Fund as Bafana Bafana Heads to the World Cup

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.

About Chery

Established in 1997, Chery Group has made significant strides in the automotive industry. Its subsidiary, Chery Automobile, holds the distinction of being the first Chinese automobile brand to exceed one million domestic sales. Additionally, Chery Automobile has been a trailblazer in expanding into international markets. In 2023, Chery Group achieved "twelve consecutive growth" in sales, with cumulative sales of 1,881,316 vehicles, representing a year-on-year increase of 52.6%. From January to July 2024, Chery Group sold a total of 1,296,380 vehicles, marking a year-on-year growth of 45.4%. As of now, Chery Group has a global automotive user base of 14 million, maintaining its position as China's top passenger car exporter for 21 consecutive years. Chery Holding Group Co., Ltd. made the list with an operating revenue of $39.0917 billion, securing the 385th position in the 2024 Fortune Global 500 list. Chery adheres to independent innovation as its strategic core and has built a product innovation system around technology R&D. This system is dedicated to providing excellent, high-quality user experiences for global consumers. Currently, Chery has established eight major R&D centres in regions including North America, South America, and Europe to support its global layout and continuous innovation. As of the end of 2023, Chery has applied for over 26,000 patents and has been granted a total of 16,245 patents, positioning it among the leaders in the Chinese automotive industry. Chery's business presence extends to more than 80 countries and regions worldwide. Currently, Chery's export product range comprises the Tiggo series, Arrizo series, and eQ series, encompassing mainstream power forms such as ICE, BEV, and PHEV. With a brand core that emphasises "Green, Technology, Family, and Companionship", Chery remains committed to a strategic direction focused on green and low-carbon initiatives, accelerating its entry into new areas such as new energy, intelligent connectivity, shared mobility, platforms, and ecosystems.

Chery actively engages in global public welfare initiatives, including environmental protection, targeted poverty alleviation, and educational donations. For example, Chery donated $6 million to support UNICEF's Global Education Thematic Programme, reflecting its commitment to international social responsibility.

Chery has been recognised five times as one of the "Top 20 Best Overseas Image Enterprises" by SASAC and CICG. Chery leads the automotive category in the Kantar BrandZ Top 50 Chinese Brand Builders 2024 report. Additionally, J.D. Power's 2023 automotive index studies show Chery ranking first in the IQS (Initial Quality Study) among domestic brands, with its Tiggo 8, Tiggo 7, and Tiggo 4 models each securing first place in their segments.