'Giving Youth Day back to the youth'
2010-06-16 17:30
Hundreds crowded the Cecil Payne Sports Complex in Maraisburg,
Johannesburg, today for the My Soccer Festival – to celebrate Youth Day with
soccer tournaments, drumming, singing and dancing.
The festival, which forms part of Conquest for Life’s social
programmes, is supported by the Brazilian embassy in South Africa.
Chief executive of Conquest for Life, Glenn Steyn, said: “We want
to take Youth Day back – to give it its rightful place; to give it back to the
youth.”
Steyn said June 16 had become too politicised in recent years and
hoped the festivities in Maraisburg would also help children who could not buy
soccer tickets to get into the spirit of the World Cup.
A group of non-governmental organisations came together as Conquest
for Life to accommodate children from areas such as Westbury, Ennerdale, Orange
Farm and Soweto, making the Youth Day celebrations possible.
Because Brazil will be hosting the World Cup in 2014, its embassy
saw it fit to participate in the Conquest for Life social programme. The Olé
Brasil Football Academy has also been involved in the soccer clinics, focusing
on developing South African youth to represent the national team in the
future.
Fabricio Morozetti, a Brazilian coach,
arrived in South Africa to take part in training the young, aspiring soccer
stars.
Steyn said only 200 children could be accommodated in the soccer
clinics but that networks currently being established with the Brazilian embassy
and the Olé Brasil Football Academy were important for the next World Cup in
2014.
The embassy and the academy will be tracking the 200 children’s
progress over the next few weeks.
Mari Carmen Gerpe, head of the cultural section at the embassy,
said the soccer clinics and the My Soccer Festival promoted social
cohesion.
“It is similar to Brazil,” Gerpe said of South Africa. “It has a
big population.”
Today, the younger crowds at the stadium sang the national anthem
and danced to music as soccer tournaments took place on the field.
Janine Leong-Colom, a parent who made it to the event with her two
children, said: “This (festival) gets the kids off the streets and gets them
involved.”
Representing Soweto, Kaylyn Swartz (16), said: “It’s (the festival)
bringing soccer fever. Our hopes are lifted for the Bafana Bafana match tonight
(against Uruguay at Loftus Versveld Stadium in Pretoria).”
Celebrities like Lorcia Cooper of Scandal!, Miss Teen SA Chante
Jantjies, Zane Meas from soapie 7de Laan, and soccer stars Simba Marumo and
Duncan Lechesa also joined in the activities.
- City Press