A group of aspiring young footballers in a rural South
African village have much to be proud about when it comes to
pulling on their shirts and taking to the pitch.
Thanks to West Ham United's Youth Academy, the young boys and girls of the Limpopo Province now have a proper kit to play in.
The Club was only too happy to supply the shirts, previously used as team training kit, when asked by Oxfordshire couple Nick and Alison Lawrie.
The Lawries, who have a house on the Lissataba game reserve near where the youngsters are based, were going to donate the kit to a local school, but instead decided to split it between two teams in the area - The Zebras and The Dwarsloper Shooters.
Despite having to live with only the most basic of amenities, the game of football is very important to the children there, as Alison explains: "Life is hard for many of the youngsters here. While they have many pressing things to attend to outside of school time, football is second nature to them.
"There are a few teams that play and, on the advice of local people who are involved in youth development here, we have shared the kit between two teams. They play in different areas so won't be clashing with each other."
The first team to receive kit was The Zebras, who are made up of players aged from 10 years and upwards.
Alison said: "They live in an area called Finale and we gathered them together, told them all about West Ham United and where the kits had come from. We said they could wear these when playing their matches."
The youngsters were delighted and it seems the new kit brought The Zebras luck, as they ran out 2-1 winners in their next match.
Kit was also given to another team, The Dwarsloper Shooters, who are based in nearby Acornhoek. Once again, despite having to live where there is no running water, a high rate of HIV and Aids and many other problems, football remains more than just a past-time and once again, the shirts were received with much delight from the team.
Alison added: "Heartfelt thanks go out to West Ham United for its generous donation. The kit will really make a difference."
Thanks to West Ham United's Youth Academy, the young boys and girls of the Limpopo Province now have a proper kit to play in.
The Club was only too happy to supply the shirts, previously used as team training kit, when asked by Oxfordshire couple Nick and Alison Lawrie.
The Lawries, who have a house on the Lissataba game reserve near where the youngsters are based, were going to donate the kit to a local school, but instead decided to split it between two teams in the area - The Zebras and The Dwarsloper Shooters.
Despite having to live with only the most basic of amenities, the game of football is very important to the children there, as Alison explains: "Life is hard for many of the youngsters here. While they have many pressing things to attend to outside of school time, football is second nature to them.
"There are a few teams that play and, on the advice of local people who are involved in youth development here, we have shared the kit between two teams. They play in different areas so won't be clashing with each other."
The first team to receive kit was The Zebras, who are made up of players aged from 10 years and upwards.
Alison said: "They live in an area called Finale and we gathered them together, told them all about West Ham United and where the kits had come from. We said they could wear these when playing their matches."
The youngsters were delighted and it seems the new kit brought The Zebras luck, as they ran out 2-1 winners in their next match.
Kit was also given to another team, The Dwarsloper Shooters, who are based in nearby Acornhoek. Once again, despite having to live where there is no running water, a high rate of HIV and Aids and many other problems, football remains more than just a past-time and once again, the shirts were received with much delight from the team.
Alison added: "Heartfelt thanks go out to West Ham United for its generous donation. The kit will really make a difference."