Former professional football players donate school shoes
School principal Kelebogile Somdaka was equally excited and said she is thrilled that Sammy and Joseph chose her school as the beneficiary.
Former Jomo Cosmos and Orlando Pirates soccer players recently put a smile on the faces of needy learners when they donated school shoes to a school in Kagiso.
The two players, Sammy Magalefa (Jomo Cosmos’ defender and midfielder) and Joseph “Duku Duku” Makhanya (Orlando Pirates’ midfield maestro), donated more than 20 pairs of shoes to the needy and destitute learners of Thusong Primary School.
The players, who happen to live in the same area, were touched when they saw learners going to school barefoot, and some learners wearing shoes that were torn and dilapidated, leaving their small feet exposed.
“I’m a resident of Kagiso and it troubled me to see pupils travelling to school without shoes, especially during winter and the rainy season, and to make matters worse some were wearing torn shoes,” Sammy said.
“I’m so humbled and this time around I brought along my colleague [Joseph] to put a smile on these learners faces and to see them receive shoes. We hope this token will boost their morale at school as well as at home. Through the grace of God I’m hoping to extend the project and donate more shoes because there are more needy learners who need this type of assistance from community members,” he added.
School principal Kelebogile Somdaka was equally excited and said she is thrilled that Sammy and Joseph chose her school as the beneficiary.
“I’m happy for the learners who received the shoes and we hope God blesses you and gives you strength so we can assist learners in others schools too. We hope our learners and their parents will cherish the gift and take good care of it,” Kelebogile Somdaka said.
It is not the first time that Sammy has donated shoes to the school. Last year he donated more than 40 pairs to the same school. Most of the beneficiaries are from the poverty-stricken areas of Swanieville, Tshepisong, Kagiso Extension 12 and Rietvallei 2 and 3.
Doreen David, the ward councillor said: “As local government leaders we are happy that these guys have seen the need to donate shoes to our needy learners. We hope that the learners and parents will appreciate the present, and that these guys continue doing good things for other schools.”
Read more:
New shoes to help them stand tall
Big difference in a pair of shoes
They achieved their goal and doubled it
Shopping centres help learners put their best foot forward
