Sport is a force to reckon with in so many different aspects of our life. None more so than when it brings together communities and helps dispel division and suspicion. One man holds the crown to that accolade – South African rugby legend Francois Pienaar, who after helping his team lift the World Cup in 1995, dedicated the trophy to all 43,000,000 South Africans.
I was privileged to meet with him last week at the Street Soccer fund-raising dinner, where he was the guest of honour. An extremely down to earth and very approachable man, he was very interested in the work of Scottish Women in Sport and spoke to me about gender balance in sport. Later, his story captivated the audience, with his tales of his time with Nelson Mandela, and you knew then you were in the company of someone extra special.
For me also, the other star performers on the night were the street soccer female players who are involved in the wonderful Street 45 campaign. However I was really more interested in their recent trip to India to meet their counterparts at Slum Soccer. Both Sarah and Laura said that for them it was life changing and that they now have a deeper appreciation for life back in Scotland. There was a little bit of a mutual admiration society going, as while our Street Soccer girls were amazed at the work being carried out in India, by all accounts Slum Soccer were blown away by the stories of personal struggles that all of the Street Soccer girls have come through, and rightly so.
The aim of the night was to raise funds to ensure that the great work carried out by Street Soccer can continue. In illustrious company that included footballing legends as well as singer Susan Boyle, they burst their fund-raising target quite comfortably.
I know that there are dinners like this nearly every week in Glasgow alone, and it says something for the Scots that they are happy to dig deep and help others not as fortunate as they are. It’s a good feeling to leave a night like that, knowing that as well as being entertained, you helped, in some small way, to change someone’s life. #sameteam.
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