IN PICTURES: U15 soccer boys get ‘a taste for life’
To earn their new soccer kit, the boys had to pull a three-hour shift at a local Spur, where they learned the value of hard work.
THREE hours of busting tables, taking orders and ensuring patrons’ needs were met with a smile and on time were the order of the day for the Bayview Soccer Club on Wednesday evening, 7 August.
The U15 team shadowed waitrons at Grand Rapids Spur on the Bluff from 6pm to 9pm to raise funds for their new soccer kits and equipment. For their good service and excellent work, the restaurant then donated 15 per cent of their takings for those three hours.
“We like to get involved with the community as the Bayview Soccer Club is a part of the Bluff and whatever donations we can help with towards the growth of the players. It is also to keep them busy with something constructive to do. We’re always happy to give to the community,” said Willie Aucamp of Grand Rapids Spur.
The team, made up of boys are said to be diligently striving towards a better future, and to increase the odds, they are always at practice, at all the games and even dedicate their time on weekends to go around filling out raffle forms, playing tournaments and still manage to achieve good marks at school.
Dedicated volunteer coaches, manager, Eddie Warren, assistant coach, Patrick Pieters, and head coach, Gerard Smith, show up on the fields directly after work and finish training quite late to return to their families. They are there for the boys on and off the fields.
“This is not a scenario where you get coaches that are qualified or on payroll. It started from us originally bringing our children in to join the club and in that, identifying the club not having the structure that it is supposed to have in terms of coaching and taking a lead by extending a helping hand because we see the benefits in this for our children,” said Patrick.
The coaches stepped up six years ago when the club’s initial coach left the team. “We took over and ran with it and we’ve been there ever since,” explained Gerard. “Most of the funding for this team comes out from our own pockets, with a little help from some parents. Unfortunately not from all parents. Most of our kids are underprivileged, they don’t come from solid homes nor do they have the best footing, be it financially or in terms of support because their parents are most working trying to make ends meet,” he said.
“I thank God that he is working through these boys to do better, with all the drugs and killings among our youngsters going on in our communities, these boys have managed to turn away from peer pressure and strive for better. My greatest wish is that someone could help sponsor them so that they can go on with pride and achieve great things and also get more youngsters involved in soccer,” said fundraising manager, Kim Bowers.
Bayview Soccer Club is affiliated to Durban Central Football Association and has teams starting from U6 to over 35. New player intake begins at the end of February 2020. If you would like to help with the team’s fundraising efforts or for more information, contact WhatsApp or call Kim Bowes on 079-788-8308 or e-mail her at bowerkim7@gmail.com.
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