Shakes wants to help needy kids

Former Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba (left) says he accepted his role as the Big Shoe Cup ambassador because the initiative is set up to help needy kids, something that is very close to his heart.

The tournament, which was launched at the Johannesburg Stadium yesterday, serves not only as a promotion for kids to participate in sport, but also to raise awareness and funds for children with facial deformities syndrome through the partnership of the TMT Sports Group, Big Smile Foundation and corporate sponsors White Star maize meal.

“I maintain that we have young talent that should be seen and developed. I am happy that the Big Shoe Cup will provide this muchneeded platform,” Mashaba added.

“We are prepared to dedicate our time to make sure that this programme works. Imagine, as you walk around the streets of our country, seeing kids who are needy, hit by poverty and those who are disabled not having any place where they will be catered for.”

Mashaba also revealed that he and other football legends are working on a programme of their own where they will help footballers to take education seriously and get into professional careers once they hang up their football boots.

“We are planning to produce players that will walk away from the field of play and walk into offices – we don’t want stereotyped players now. We want players who will become doctors and other professions after playing football. This is what we are working on. I think this programme came at the right time.”

The Big Shoe Cup will feature 112 youngsters aged between 10 and 12 years and will be played at the Braamfischer Multi-Purpose Sports grounds in Soweto on July 21.