Football Without Borders (FWB) continues to tackle social issues with its innovative programmes in Zandspruit, this time assisting one of the affiliated clubs with its numerous programmes.FWB operates in various areas in Gauteng, including Zandspruit and Kromdraai, where they even have kickboxing projects.
For Michael Mapfunde and FWB’s Sports and Academic Coordinator, Eliah Dzwowa, it’s always a challenge to get South Africans involved in their projects.”People often have a negative impression of Zandspruit, and they are therefore afraid to invest in any programme based here,” Michael stated.
Eliah feels equally strongly about the fact that very few locals are willing to assist in their own area.”When someone ‘makes it’ as they say, they often forget where they came from and what made them. For me, that is not right. It is shameful that we have to rely on international organisations for donations,” Eliah said.
One such organisation is the Canadian Toronto-based Second Kicks which is a non-profit organisation that collects and distributes second-hand and new soccer kit to disadvantaged communities and clubs around the world.”Second Kicks have always been amazing about helping us out,” Michael said with a grateful smile.
The latest donation from them came in the form of several pairs of soccer boots as well a few new sets of kit, which went to Rampya Chiefs. Rampya Chiefs train on a dusty, rock-strewn field across the road from The Hope Centre on Eureka Street in Zandspruit. On one side, it is bordered by houses, but the other drops off to an area littered with illegal electrical connection cables that run to the surrounding houses.
“The cables are a huge danger for the children because if the ball rolls over the edge and the children have to fetch it, there is a huge risk of them harming themselves,” Eliah said.
The children also have the added issue of the field being a piece of ground that residents cross to access their houses, and the taxi rank is also situated there.
“People simply walk over the field without a care and expect the children to train around them,” Eliah stated.
Despite all the challenges they face, Michael and his helpers continue working hard on their social development programmes in Zandspruit, in the hopes that they can help keep the children in a healthy, active environment rather than leaving them to wander around Zandspruit with nothing to do other than visit taverns.
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