FORMER professional soccer players, young amateur players, as well as South African and Dutch stakeholders converged on the Zodwa Khoza Foundation Entrepreneurial & Skills Development Centre in Phase 1 Diepkloof for the “historic” launch of a Cruyff Court – on the midweek morning of October 8.
A technical team of ex-Orlando Pirates FC players comprising of Innocent Chikoya, James Mkhwanazi, Kagiso Mogale, Mandla Sithole, as well ex-captain and guest Happy Jele, were on hand to welcome ex-Manchester United goalkeeper, Edwin van der Sar and his entourage from the Cruyff Foundation in the Netherlands – for the unveiling of the artificial turfed 5-a-side soccer pitch named Cruyff Court Diepkloof.
Also present to receive the European guests was the ZKF’s Chairperson, Sonono Khoza – along with representatives of entities which have partnered with the foundation such as Rhiza Babuyile and AL Tawheed Foundation. Additionally, a group of women involved in various initiatives at the centre were also in attendance to witness the opening of the new facility within the multi-faceted premises.
After Khoza’s lively welcome address, van der Sar announced: “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.” Adding, “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.”
At the speeches conclusion, the sundry attendees assembled around the new court – which spotted three boards (one of which was inscribed with the familiar 14 Rules of Johann Cruyff) – to behold van der Sar, Jele and a pair of young players participate in a spot kicking demonstration.
A light moment occurred when 9-year-old Grade 4 learner Siphelele Madume’s kick beat van der Sar at the goalpost he was manning – to applause from the gathered spectators. Subsequently, the two ex-pro footballers attended to photo calls and media interviews.
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 center after a network acquaintance named Ashmita Singh had facilitated the partnership between the two.
Explaining the Pirates ex-players’ presence, Khoza mentioned that they’ve been recruited to the foundation’s sports development programme through which they assist in transforming the young male and female footballers who regularly make use of the centre, into fullgrounded sportsmen and women.
Regarding the future outlook of her organization’s association with the Cruyff Foundation, Khoza expounded: “As time goes on, we are hoping that through the international footprint, there is a cultural exchange not only through sports, but also for them to bring other skills that we’re short of, because there’s a high rate of unemployment in this country and we’re hoping to upskill the youth.”
Among its variety of programmes the foundation offers on-the-job training whose placement objective Khoza claims currently places 121 young people from Soweto, the Vaal, Cosmo City and around the country in internships at Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital.
The ZKF’s vision resonates with that espoused in the 14 Rules of Johann Cruyff which exhort everyone to adhere to, inter alia, responsibility, integration, coaching, social involvement, development, et cetera.
The Zodwa Khoza Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to uplifting communities through programmes focused on youth and women empowerment, poverty alleviation, entrepreneurial and skills development, and socio-economic justice.
Founded in honour of the late Ms Zodwa Khoza, the Foundation carries forward her legacy of compassion, resilience and service. ZKF has become a hub of transformation, bridging opportunities for the most vulnerable members of society.
Cruyff Courts are public free-to-access football fields embedded in neighbourhoods created by the Johan Cruyff Foundation – of which Cruyff himself was one of the founders – since 1997, to give children a safe space to play, promote healthy living, and teach them social skills.
A Cruyff Court in Santos, Brazil pays tribute to both Cruyff and Pelé and was the 300th launched worldwide – whilst the Diepkloof one, according to van der Sar, is the eleventh in South Africa.
Johan 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, in 1971, 1973 and 1974 – around the period he also won three European Cups (the current Champions League) with Ajax Amsterdam in 1971, 1972 and 1973.
In 1999, Cruyff 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.
All images Jacob MAWELA (Edwin van der Sar limned greeting Orlando Pirates FC’s technical team at the launch of the Cruyff Court in Diepkloof).
