WeeklySA_AdminUPLIFTMENT: Inspired by the late Dutch soccer legend Johan Cruyff, the fields are meant to give children a safe space to play…
By Jacob Mawela
South African and Dutch football personalities gathered in Soweto this week to witness the launch of the Cruyff Court – a five-a-side soccer pitch in honour of the Netherlands football legend.
Hosted by the Zodwa Khoza Foundation Entrepreneurial & Skills Development Centre and Netherlands-based Cruyff Foundation, the launch in Diepkloof was attended by former Orlando Pirates players, Innocent Chikoya, James Mkhwanazi, Kagiso Mogale, Mandla Sithole and Happy Jele.
The Dutch were represented by former Manchester United goalkeeper, Edwin van der Sar, and other members of the Cruyff Foundation. Other guests included representatives of entities which have partnered with the foundation – the Rhiza Babuyile and AL Tawheed Foundation.
The launch was held at the Zodwa Khoza Foundation Entrepreneurial & Skills Development Centre in Diepkloof Extension Phase 1, which is headed by Sonono Khoza, a daughter of Orlando Pirates boss Irvin Khoza.
Van der Sar told the gathering: “We come from the Johan Cruyff Foundation to watch you, because with the achievements you are working out in difficult situations to give youth a future, to give youth possibilities, to give youth the strength and the power to make something out of your life – that is for us a really important issue to be here”.
“So we’re looking forward to not only this beautiful football pitch, but also all the hard work that will go on in this building to give young people, but also a lot of women an opportunity to take the next step in life.”
Following the formalities, the guests went to play at the new turf and to watch Van der Sar, Jele and a pair of young players participate in a spot-kicking demonstration. Nine-year-old Siphelele Madume’s kick beat Van der Sar at the goalpost – raising a raucous applause from the spectators.
According to Khoza, the ZKF’s partnership with the Cruyff Foundation had come about through Rhiza – a Netherlands-based non-profit entity committed to lasting change through integrated programmes geared towards the upliftment of communities – which had been the first to partner with the Soweto centre.
Explaining the Pirates ex-players’ presence, Khoza said they were recruited to the foundation’s sports development programme through which they nurture the talents of young male and female footballers.
The Zodwa Khoza Foundation was established to honour Zodwa Khoza, the late daughter of Irvin Khoza. It is a non-profit organisation dedicated to uplifting communities through programmes focused on youth and women empowerment, poverty alleviation, entrepreneurial and skills development, and socio-economic justice.
Among its various programmes it offers on-the-job training which to date has seen 121 young people from Soweto, the Vaal, Cosmo City and around being given internships at the Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital.
Cruyff Courts are public, free-access football fields found in residential neighbourhoods created by the Johan Cruyff Foundation in 1997. Johann Cruyff was one of the founders in 1997. They are meant to give children a safe space to play.
A Cruyff Court in Santos, Brazil pays tribute to both Cruyff and Pelé and was the 300th launched worldwide – whilst the Diepkloof one is the eleventh in South Africa.
Cruyff, who died in 2016 aged 68, was a Dutch football player who was regarded as one of the greatest players in history. He won the Ballon d’Or thrice (1971, 1973 and 1974). He also won three European Cups (the current Champions League) with Ajax Amsterdam in 1971, 1972 and 1973. In 1999.
He was voted European Player of the Century and came second behind Pelé as World Player of the Century, in a poll by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics.
