Soccer keeps children off the streets
MIDRAND - Children from a junior soccer development programme in Ebony Park and Allendale Extension 12 enjoy playing soccer.
Over 85 children from the community play in a soccer initiative by Nkuli-SA Football Developments.
Nkazimulo Mbadu, a 15-year-old boy who plays for Nkuli-SA FD said, “I have played for other teams before but I enjoy playing for this team, it’s fun. I am happy with my performance with the under-15 and under-17. I got injured while playing but I do not regret playing, thanks to the team and my coach for all the teams’ success.”
The team’s coach, Lucky Dunn said, “I like to encourage children to do sports as it keeps them occupied and focused on positive pass-times. It may help them stop experimenting with drugs or just wandering about the streets and end up committing crimes. I enjoy coaching children, without expecting anything in return, it is something I do as a way of giving back to my community.”
He said, “The team have only played one season and won the matches. The U-15 team played against Zamalek FC on 15 August, the U-11 played against MXO Developments on 8 September, while the U-17 played Youth Quake on 24 September. All the teams did very well.”
The under-11 team played against MXO Developments and won with a score of 2-1. The under-15 team won 5-2 to Zamalek FC. The under-17 team played against the Youth Quake team with a final score of 5-3.
