Young cultural performers from Khayelitsha township in South Africa are preparing for the chance of a lifetime when they perform at the inauguration of the Football for Hope Centre, an official element of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final Draw. streetfootballworld organises the event jointly with FIFA and visited the young talents in one of their last rehearsals.
Drummers, rappers, opera singers and kwaito dancers are among those selected from the local community to perform in front of a star-studded crowd of VIPs, celebrities and local residents at the two-day event taking place on December 5 and 6 to celebrate the opening of the first of 20 Football for Hope Centres to be constructed across Africa as part of ’20 Centres for 2010’, the Official Campaign of the FIFA World Cup™.
FIFA President Joseph S Blatter, Premier of the Western Cape Helen Zille, South African Minister for Sports Rev Makhenkesi Stofile, Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town Alderman Dan Plato and former South African football captain Lucas Radebe will be among those in the crowd.
“This is a great opportunity for all of us as it will put Khayelitsha on the map” said 20-year old Monde Mfini of the Future Line Arts Academy in between energetic dance rehearsals.
The South African national anthem “Nkosi Sikelel iAfrica” will be performed by Heavenly Cortez, a group of four young opera singers from Khayelitsha. “For us, the Football for Hope Centre Kick Off will provide a great platform to show what we can do” said singer Melly Ndabeni. “We are going to blow the people away!”
“The Football for Hope Centre will help us create a new future for our young people, and the Football for Hope Centre Kick Off is a great opportunity to show the world the talent and potential that is right here in Khayelitsha“ said Zamayedwa Sogayise, Chairperson of the Khayelitsha Development Forum which applied for the centre along with the Western Cape Province and City of Cape Town.
The Football for Hope Centre in Khayelitsha will address HIV and Aids education through the work of the Centre Host Grassroot Soccer. Football for Hope is a movement led by FIFA and streetfootballworld that aims to build a better future through football.
