The inaugural Discovery Soccer Festival developed by Discovery and the Gauteng Department of Social Development took place at Discovery Soccer Park in Illovo.
The event included soccer coaching clinics aimed at involving South Africans with special needs.
A total of 15 youths volunteered their time to run the soccer sessions.
Head of Discovery Vitality Wellness, Dr Craig Nossel said, “The first Discovery Soccer Festival was a huge success with all our participants enjoying the soccer training and games. Sport truly goes a long way in bringing people together and helping them feel a part of something.”
Zandi Mahola, social work policy developer for the Gauteng Department of Social Development, said the department strove to ensure that South Africans with special needs were able to participate in recreational, cultural and sports activities.
“We want to ensure people have the opportunity to develop and utilise their creative, artistic and intellectual potential, not only for their benefit but also for the enrichment of society,” said Mahola.
Paralympic and Commonwealth Games gold-medallist, Natalie du Toit opened the festival.
“For each and every one of you, there is an opportunity, you have to find it,” said Du Toit. “It’s not about your disability or your ability, it is about having a goal you want to achieve. We cannot all go to the Olympics or Paralympics, but we can all enjoy our lives through sport and have goals and dreams.”
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