Soccer NPO has big dreams to change the community of Manenberg and its all thanks to Friedl Gertse, the Founder of Greater Purpose Outreach.
Manenberg, South Africa (23 November 2020) – Friedl Gertse, the Founder of Greater Purpose Outreach and co-founder of the Young Tornado Warriors Football Club is on a mission to bring change to Manenberg by bridging the gap between sport and education. His vision is simple, empower the community to unite together to tackle the social problems they face.
Friedl started a soccer club called Young Tornado Warriors with his partner Magadien Wentzel. The story has been told many times and is the main focus of the book The Number by Jonny Steinberg. The story also became the subject of TV documentaries and newspaper features. Friedl and Magadien shared the same vision to give back to Manenberg and to help the youth find alternative ways to become successful and not end up in gangsterism or to continue the vicious cycle of poverty.
Friedl Gertse, decided to register the soccer club as an NPO separate to his Greater Purpose Outreach NPO so that the club would remain as a community hub and have this legacy passed over from children to great-grandchildren.
“We want the boys one day to come back to Manenberg and rebuild on what we have built up for them. It is important for us that the boys share and respect the values we are implementing now for there children and the community of Manenberg”
Friedl hopes the soccer club will bridge the gap through education. While the focus is sport, he hopes to assist the players in accessing bursaries after Matric as well as job placements.
“My ultimate goal is to look after every player’s educational interests that comes through our soccer club. We have 1 player in Gr.9 who wants to become a doctor one day. It’s the club’s responsibility to see to it that we empower and grow this boy into that career”
The soccer club started a tuckshop that will be operated by Magadien. As the community is so isolated and far from big shops, they hope to fill it with essentials so that people can save their money on travel costs to get to the far-away shops.
“We saw a gap in the community that there are items people have to walk far for to buy things so we decided to bring this closer to home.”
The vision of the club tuckshop is a fundraising shop which caters the necessary essential items used by the community on a daily basis.
“We will cater for the needs of the vulnerable families and children. The profits generated by the tuckshop will be used to assist the young players in paying their registration and transfer fees. The shop will also try to generate funds to assist with purchasing club equipment.
Magadien Wentzel co-founder of the Young Tornado Warriors Football Club says, “We are blessed to have the champion of our club Mr Friedl Gertse for donating the necessary essential items to start the tuckshop. Our club shop will be known as Warriors Tuckshop.”
The club will also launch their first community cleaning project in Manenberg in December which will form part of their soccer club’s Social Responsibility drive.
“The project will run regularly and each player receives a small goodie bag for their effort. We have budgeted for 100 people which will consist of our soccer club players and their parents.” – Magadien
Friedl, ” The goal of the cleaning project is to teach the community responsibility and take pride in their community. Through this we want the parents to also participate and lead by example.”
If you are able to assist Greater Purpose Outreach or the Young Tornado Warriors Football Club in any way, contact Friedl Gertse on friedl@greaterpurposeoutreach.co.za or 071 756 7808.
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