LIV / Cottonlands Under 15 Football League

At LIV we are striving to create a brighter future for the orphans of South Africa, however there are hundreds of thousands of underprivileged children out there that will not get the opportunities all children deserve.

That is why we do sport. With the right guidance, sport is an entertaining and easy way to teach the principles of team work, commitment, discipline, as well as other valuable life lessons, whilst giving respite from the harsh realities around us. Therefore we have started our first U15 football league; boys from our neighbouring Cottonlands Community have come together to form 3 football teams, which will compete in a league format over the following 6 weeks.

The teams are FC LIV, Mphela’s Boys and Young Boys and have over 50 registered players, with new players registering every week, with this growing interest, we are excited to expand the league in the second season.

We will be praying as we move forward, creating a netball league for the girls and further leagues and teams for the junior age groups.

Sunday 19th September 2010 – (FC LIV vs. Mphela’s Boys)

Another beautiful day in the Cottonlands Area started out with the young boys in the community, coming to our Sunday morning church service. The excitement of the day was well felt, as the boys rushed down to the Golden Steps School field for some last minute preparation before their BIG first game.

These boys have definitely taken the step up, forming their own teams, scheduling their own practices and managing themselves completely. VIVA! They have embraced football and are well on their way to embracing the Lord.  The boys practice every day without fail, taking their minds off the harsh realities that come with growing up in the township. Thus said, the league is but a step in their development and we can already see the emergence of future leaders.

Back to the game……

FC LIV started with the ball and felt the pressure, as the Mphela’s Boys started with much excitement.  Rugged and barefoot, like gum to a shoe, the Mphela’s Boys held onto possession. Mphela’s Boys went 1 up in the 23rd minute with a great goal scored from the edge of the big box.

The second half started much better for the FC LIV team as they started strongly with most of the play taking play in the Mphela’s Boys half. 5 minutes to go FC LIV scored their much anticipated only goal as the FC LIV winger dribbled the ball down the line and whipped in a perfectly placed cross for the striker to score on the volley at the far post.

A few more chances went wide at each end in the last few moments as both sides pushed for the win. However, the defence held out and the game ended up a 1-1 draw, with both teams sharing the points.

Sunday 26th September – (Young Boys vs. Mphela’s Boys)

We gathered in the centre of the field to pray before kick-off as the dust swirled up around us, on another beautiful day in the Cottonlands Township. It was a rather humorous start to the game as both teams got into position for kick-off, however during our prayer the wind in all its blustery splendour had absconded with the ball, down the bank and into the bush, 22 kids in the bush later, the ball was found and the game kicked off.

The dirt from the pitch swirling around made the air chew-able as the boys scampered around after the ball, surprisingly the gale force wind did not dampen the teams’ enthusiasm, the boys were loving life, just seeing the joy this brings them, I could referee in a hurricane, with 6 more trips into the bush and a volunteer in a tree to escape the dust. The game ended 0-0.

As the teams prayed together after the game, it becomes clearer that football is the tool to introduce the Lord and a brighter future to these children. I cannot put into words the joy this brings.

God Bless
Damien Lourens (LIV volunteer Sports Coordinator)