Bay youngsters to play in Street Football World Cup

[caption id="attachment_38962" align="alignright" width="405"] GOING PLACES: Nelson Mandela Bay street footballers, back, from left, Asisipho Mangaliso, Nosipho Xapile (coordinator), Lindiwe Cezula, Kaylin Fourie, front, from left, Eleazar Kettledas, Sibulele Mangaliso, Nick Mould (coordinator), Athaphelele Ngwendu and Cody Leibrandt left this week to participate in the Street Football World Cup in Brazil. Another player, Lorenda Fezile, was not available for the photograph. Picture: DEON VAN DER WALT[/caption]

EIGHT high school soccer players from Nelson Mandela Bay will enjoy an experience of a lifetime when they participate in the Street Football World Cup in Sao Paulo, Brazil, over the next two weeks.

The children, most of whom come from previously disadvantaged communities, left for Brazil this week and will test their skill against some of the world's best young street football players.

The team is divided equally into four boys and four girls, seven of whom are from Pearson High. Asisipho Mangaliso, Eleazar Kettledas, Kaylin Fourie, Athaphelele Ngwendu, Lorenda Fezile, Sibulele Mangaliso and Lindiwe Cezula will be joined by Victoria Park's Cody Leibrandt.

The team will be based in Sao Paulo for the duration of the tournament but will make day trips to experience the country, learn about the different cultures and share South African culture with locals.

United Through Sport (UTS) director Nick Mould, who helped make the trip happen, said the organisation had been invited to play in the tournament.

"It's about using football as a tool to create cultural exchange for the kids and also create interaction. There will also be a big focus on fair play and sportsmanship."

According to Mould, the children are all part of the UTS scholarship programme. Their sporting abilities were a major factor in the awarding of scholarships to attend top schools, not only to enhance their sporting abilities but also to give them a chance to achieve after school.

Mould said the initiative aimed to give children who attended township schools the same opportunities afforded to those who attended top schools.

Leibrandt, 17, will be travelling overseas for the first time and is a big fan of Brazil. His favourite players include Neymar and Oscar.

He believes the hosts will win the World Cup in Brazil because he believes they are playing well, "and with the help of the crowd, anything is possible".

He said street football had played a major role in moulding him.

"While playing soccer as a junior, I was taught we should play for one another, most importantly enjoy the game, always do your best and never give up."

Pearson High's Fourie, 15, is another first-timer when it comes to international travel.

She is also a Brazil fan, a team she says she has supported "for years now".

"My father also likes them so supporting Brazil is like a religion in my house."

Fourie said the group was hoping to secure tickets to watch a World Cup semifinal while they were in Brazil. - Amir Chetty