It’s been a little over a month since the start of KIA Street Soccer and after a very successful launch in Cape Town, the initiative has been met with tremendous enthusiasm nationally. There has been an incredible amount of activity and buzz around the project with all 40 communities now in the midst of regional round robin action.
KIA Street soccer has been a great tool for interacting with youth from all corners of South Africa as well as giving all stakeholders involved, an insight into the diverse cultures that make up the remarkable components of our Rainbow Nation.
The one thing that can’t be disputed, the one universal factor that you find with every community you visit, is the undeniable excitement about KIA Street Soccer that is displayed by each and everyone participating. All the communities have accepted and welcomed KIA Street Soccer with open arms, and the programme has managed to ignite excitement and a sense of hope and relief, emotions not often forthcoming in these troubled communities.
With South Africa celebrating Youth Day over the weekend; KIA Street Soccer tied in with the theme of this holiday and made a symbolic impact by aiming to celebrate, better and empower the youth through the medium of sport. The realities these children are faced with are devastating – crime, drug use and gang affiliation are some of the factors that have become a norm in their daily lives. The matches that took place over the weekend, allowed the children to celebrate the Youth Day weekend by being active and doing something that they are passionate about.
KIA Street Soccer is inclusive in its approach: the children compete and the elders lend their support by cheering the children on. When the games begin, there’s nothing else to focus on apart from the festivities at hand, and it’s evident that this initiative is bringing joy into the lives of the community, even if it’s a temporary solution.
Sport has, and continues to play an integral role in unifying people and communities. It has the power to turn frowns into smiles and this initiative is playing its part in healing and unifying communities. Sporting Chance is sincerely thankful to Kia, Mille, Dawn Wing, Super Sport Let’s Play, Good Hope fm, Ukhozi fm, Ajax Cape Town and Amazulu for their continued support and assistance in making this vision a reality.