Nurturing soccer talent in Vosloorus
Dreamfields and the Chevrolet Ute Force have joined forces to bring joy and hope to the lives of primary school children in Vosloorus through the game of soccer.
Dreamfields is a soccer development project focused on uplifting communities across the country; it shares the same nature as its partner Chevrolet Ute Force, a community-driven initiative.
Saturday, February 22, marked the launch of a 10-school soccer league at Vosloorus’ Bopang-Kgotso Primary School.
Teacher and chairman for sport at the school, John Makeke, said children involved have shown a heightened passion for the game and a stronger sense of “community” since the project’s introduction in 2013.
“Often we have to help children get back home after school as they have missed the only transport they have access to, because they wanted to play soccer with their friends after their academic lessons.”
The 10 local primary schools, which are currently within a soccer league developed by Dreamfields, will also receive dream bags that include soccer equipment and a kit to help extend the Dream League into its second year.
A dedicated all-girls soccer league will also form part of the 2014 project, with four girls’ teams starting their season this month.
Dreamfields founder John Perlman says: “Our vision is to create and grow primary school football in a way that allows children to play week in and week out, which is the first step towards building a sustainable love of sport.
“If we can reach out to this age group, right now, and add joy and purpose to their lives, we have a great chance of giving them the kind of positive dreams that will keep them away from drugs, crime and violence later on.”
The 10 schools that make up the Vosloorus Dream League are: Bopang-Kgotso Primary School, Ndlelenhle Primary School (girls), Nageng Primary School, Mthimkhulu Primary School (girls), Fortune Kunene Primary School, Ikusasalethu Primary School, Thembimfundo Primary School, Zimele Primary School, Repontsheng Primary School and Thabang Primary School.
