Balls are like gold ... or babies

The N2 soccer players pool what they can to buy new balls. “We contributed R20 each at the beginning of the year and bought a ball for R230,” said Tyebileyo. “But it’s poor quality and already worn out, though we take care of our soccer balls as if they are babies. We’ve made our field smaller so that the ball does not land on the road. Our previous ball burst when a car ran over it.”

Qhosholo’s team bought a ball for R400 a few months ago. “It has a slow puncture now,” he said. “We pump it in the morning and in the evening. We do our best not to let the ball land on the N2 because that would be its end. Once in a while donors throw used balls through their car windows. Sometimes we go window-shopping for soccer balls. Quality balls cost R500 upwards, and that is a lofty dream.”