Boot camp creates opportunities
Shongweni Dam community activist gives back to the youth through soccer.
LINDO Mbanjwa of Shongweni Dam has taken the initiative of giving back to the community through his love for soccer. Working as a manager in a petrol station in Kloof, Mbanjwa was touched by the lack of opportunities in his community that have prevented the youth from achieving greater things. This urge led him to launch a football club.
“Our community is rural and secluded; I thought about the young people who live here and have dreams and have so much potential to make it big for themselves,” said Mbanjwa.
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He said the Rude Boys Football Club was launched in 2015. “The club seeks to groom young men in the community to make use of their football talents. We have about 30 boys in their teenage years, some younger than that, and some adults.
“We meet during the weekdays to practise; we always organise matches with other football clubs in the area. We recently had the AmaZulu Football club members visit us. The idea of the club is to expose these young boys to the professional side of football, and to opportunities,” he said.
Mbanjwa said the club has grown over the years with community members who are like-minded joining him in his efforts of giving back.
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“Two gentlemen approached me and asked to be part of the movement as I had been doing everything from my pocket – I still am. Together, we plan transport for the boys when they go to matches, and we sometimes organise those matches. We will also host a tournament in March or April,” he said. Furthermore, Mbanjwa commended the talent he experiences as he coaches them. “The boys are determined and show progress in every match. We recently hosted an award ceremony to acknowledge their hard work,”
He pleaded with the community of the Highway area to join them in giving back to the youth. “Because they are not kept busy, young people turn to drugs that will ruin their future. This is another way of keeping them busy and out of trouble – we owe it to them to show support and continue the fight against drugs and criminal activities.”
The public is invited to contribute to this course by contacting Lindo Mbanjwa on 084 410 0302.
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