Surprise donation uplifts Soweto Shinning Stars Football Club
It takes one able individual to pay attention to the need of their surrounding and dedicate themselves as a vehicle for change for their community.
SunBet Cares donated a soccer kit for the Soweto Shinning Stars Football Club on Monday.
They donated about 120 soccer balls, 40 cones and soccer kit for six divisions from under nine to under 19.
This is part of SunBet Cares CSI initiatives to sponsor both education and sport within previously disadvantaged communities.
CEO of SunBet, Simon Gregory said, “In corporate we are in the fortunate position of being able to use some of our financial resources to help those in need, to invest both in their education and sports activities for the good of our youth and communities.”
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According to Soweto Shinning Stars coach, Mawande Sisilana these donations are a rare gesture to kids from the township.
“Kids from townships including myself have never seen such a surprise and having people come through for us, I am filled with mixed emotions. I am grateful this will boost my team’s confidence to continue aiming to raise our community from the ashes,” said coach Sisilana.
Soweto Shinning Stars Football Club is a multipurpose soccer teams that does not only focus of soccer but also helping children with their academics. It aims to leave no child behind without assistance.
Sisilana said, “We do not only keep kids grounded with soccer, but we also provide them with tutoring and pushing them on their academics as well.
“If you are playing soccer, we are going to help you with your school work; no child is deprived of their need.”
It all began when a Financial Accountant from SunBet, Jakob Madikane who lives in Protea Glen was driving around on a weekend and saw a local soccer match and decided to watch. That was when he noticed that their soccer kit was not in a good condition and yet they were good on the field.
“As I was driving by, I was strike by the fact that these kids were using the same kit they used on their previous match. I stopped and spoke to the coach and he addressed the need of donations for the kids,” said Madikane.
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It takes one able individual to pay attention to the need of their surrounding and dedicate themselves as a vehicle for change for their community.
“This led me to link them with our CSI year programme and I was glad to hear that SunBet was able to donate and change lives. Because I believe that sports can defeat substance abuse and improve the lives of a lot of young people,” he concluded.
