POLOKWANE – When you have nothing to keep you busy and you have plenty of time on your hands as a young man or woman you fall easy prey to getting involved with wrong things such as crime and substance abuse, says recovering drug addict, Danfred Hannam.
The 25-year-old from Westenburg says as a recovering drug addict he knows what challenges and peer pressure the youth face daily which is why he decided to form the Bunch of Mighty Believers (Bomb) Squad soccer team for boys aged between 12 and 15 years of age.
According to Hannam there are a lot of talented young soccer players in Westenburg and the aim of the Bomb Squad is to give the young developing players an opportunity to improve their skill and to create a platform where they can show off their skill and be proud of what they can do.
“Our aim is to keep these young boys out of the streets so they do not fall prey to mischievous behaviour. As a team we do not only train to improve our skill in the sport, but we also keep our bodies fit and healthy. The team faces many challenges because we do not have all the equipment and gear other teams have, but I stay focused and motivated to keep this team alive because the guys are so dedicated and committed to this team. They come to practice on time every day and the excitement on their faces when they play against other teams are priceless.
“We are still in the beginning stages of building our team and many of the big teams look down on us and don’t accept our match invitations but I know soon everyone will know who Bomb Squad is,” Hannam explains.
He adds they still have a lot of work to do to get the team off the ground such as securing sponsors and getting more training equipment. “We don’t want money, we just want people to invest in our team. We would appreciate it if someone can sponsor us with soccer uniforms, especially T-shirts and soccer boots, as some boys come from underprivileged backgrounds.
“We received a soccer ball from one of our families which we use for practice, but we still need a lot more necessities such as cones, agility ladders, whistles and soccer balls to name a few,” Hannam explains.
He encourages the youth, no matter what they are going through, there is always light at the end of the tunnel and when they feel like no one cares about them they should know: “God cares, your family cares, the community cares and I care”.
He invites boys aged between 12 and 15 years to join the team.
“We practice Monday to Thursday from 16:30 to 18:00 at the Westenburg Sport Grounds in Buys Street”.
If anyone is interested in joining the team or would like to sponsor the team, call Danfred Hannam at 078 476 1746.
