Moses has loved soccer his entire life, after an injury benched him, he decided to use his skills to coach at-risk youth instead and gave them hope.
Moses said that in his youth, soccer was his life. He had to stop playing because of an injury he sustained but never gave up on the sport. Today he fulfills his life passion in a different and much more meaningful way. He works as a freelance camera man to pay the bills but his main focus is still soccer.
In 2009 I noticed that there were so many kids roaming the streets in the informal settlements and squatter camps. I started coaching these youngsters in an attempt to get them off the street and on the right track through soccer and netball.
Moses makes use of a community hall in Bridgetown Northriding, Johannesburg to offer after school homework assistance for the soccer and netball teams he coaches. They work with around 58 children. The under 13’s and 15’s get help on Tuesdays and Wednesdays while the 17’s get assistance on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
He has seen a massive change in the attitude the youth have towards life and schooling. Moses feels a huge pride for the children he works with.
“ You can often see a real attitude change in the kids. They become a part of a team, they belong. The attitude changed and they start working hard at their school work too. It is so rewarding to see. There is such a danger of them falling in with the wrong crowd if they are left to roam around the streets….gangs, drugs, teenage pregnancy are all realities of this world that they are a part of.”
Moses funds all the kits himself, a true hero in the face of his young teams. One man out there actively working to make a change and offer better opportunities for the youth. If you would like to find out more about Moses or offer your time see his contact info here.