Boots for Dreams hosts soccer fun day

“Making a difference through the power of sport”

August 5, 2016

SHERNOVIA REDDY 1 minute read

Title: Teacher 5. Photo: Desnay Peterson Caption: A joyful entrance as Bella arrives on the back of a motorbike. Description: People on a motorbike in a school hall.

BOOTS for Dreams hosted its annual Mandela Day Football Clinic at Rietvlei Soccer Park on the Sunday, July 24.

Despite the cold weather, the soccer fun day saw 60 young soccer players, aged from 10 to 15, from underprivileged areas, join in for a day of technical training, a fun mini tournament and lunch. The young players were from Gauteng regions such as Jackson’s Drift, Orange Farm and Observatory.

Coach Lyle Bennett used the opportunity to also coach the coaches, empowering them to become better at what they do.

Each club received bibs and cones to improve their training methods and each player received their own soccer ball. Prizes were awarded to the winning team (Ireland) of the mini tournament.

Pano Dimas, founder and ambassador of Boots for Dreams, spoke to the young players afterwards, acknowledging that they all have talent and encouraging them to never give up on their dreams.

Boots for Dreams thanked coach Lyle Bennett and his young assistant coaches (Bradley and Keagan Perry) and coach Clayton, Kyle le Roux (ambassador of Boots for Dreams), Robyn le Roux (Chayil Foundation), Rietvlei Soccer Park, Taurus Pharmacy (Mulbarton Hospital) for sponsorship, Tamzin Vasanjee, the Newman family, Rashid Cassim Sports, Christine Botha (Pick n Pay) and Oros for donating the soccer balls.

Tanya Dimas reiterated that when you host a day for such young players, you are reminded that they have more challenges in life than the average person in the community, and you realise, once again, that sport plays a very important role in their lives.

“Their passion for soccer really stood out. The coaches are truly dedicated to assisting and guiding these young boys to make the right choices in life,” said Dimas.

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