The borrowing of soccer boots from friends for a game of football and sometimes exchanging them with substituted players will be a thing of the past for the stars of Bluebirds Ladies.
This follows a Betway handover of brand new soccer boots to the players of the only female football club in Alexandra ahead of its 2021 season. The handover was facilitated by U17 women’s football national coach Simphiwe ‘Shorty’ Dludlu and attended by the senior team players, and coaches Katlego Malaka, Thapelo Mphahlele and Bulelani Maphanjwa.
Speaking at the handover, Dludlu lamented the fact that she played soccer at a time when there were few women who showed interest in soccer, hence they were not supported or encouraged to pursue their dreams in what was then a men’s game.
“I am happy things have changed and are still changing for the better and that when the hard times fall on you like a ton of bricks you have plenty of shoulders to cry on.
“Some of us never had that kind of pampering. Our parents never wanted anything to do with girls playing soccer and no fans would show up at our matches to support us and offer that soothing motivation of cheer when we score those goals or do a shibobo,” she said.
The Alex-born former soccer player said she never had boots of her own and often relied on the goodwill of friends and other players. “There will be no more sharing of boots as Betway has come to the rescue of an unattainable situation,” Dludlu said.
Sihle Mnguni, a right back for the ‘Beautiful Birds of Alex’, concurred with Shorty that there would be no more borrowing of boots. “Unfortunately, that practice is still there even today as we don’t have enough boots to go around and often have to rely on friends and teammates,” she said in her gratitude to Betway on behalf of her colleagues in the team.
Malaka described 2020 as a difficult year full of trials and tribulations for the team, coupled with the advent of Covid-19. “We had a difficult year full of challenges but this Betway gesture will go a long way in the development of the girl child,” said Malaka.
Mphahlele said the donation of boots would boost not only the morale of the players but the coaches as well in their efforts to take children off the streets and away from mischief and other social ills.
“I appeal to those with abundant resources to consider sharing with us wherever and whenever. Your gesture will be more than welcome,” Mphahlele added.
Betway’s marketing manager David Rachidi said the donation was a ‘culmination of a series of betting on the passion of sport’ by the company in an effort to assist the less fortunate.
“We have done this with various sporting codes such as baseball, cricket, soccer, rugby and even handing out food parcels to struggling communities and sportspeople under the Covid-19 lockdown,” he said
“I urge you and all of us to keep our guard against the pandemic and never to lower it at any given time. Wear your mask at all times, wash your hands regularly with soap and sanitise frequently, and keep your distance in public spaces.”
