Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Bafana coach scores goal for ill children
Igesund partners with Red Cross Hospital
IT WAS difficult to gauge who was more excited, the parents or the little patients, when Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund popped in to visit the Red Cross Children’s Hospital yesterday.
Igesund was at the hospital to formalise his partnership with the Children’s Hospital Trust, the hospital’s fundraising arm. And now that he’s an official Red Cross ambassador, he says he’ll work closely with the trust to “bring joy to the children”.
Igesund signed soccer balls for the children in E unit and showed off some of his moves with a soccer ball, playing ball with some of the youngsters.
“It’s important to all of us to realise that we’re so spoilt and blessed in our lives that we forget about the needy, the people out there who are suffering. And the Red Cross Children’s Hospital is a fantastic foundation for just that,” the Bafana mentor told Weekend Argus.
On why he got involved with the hospital, he said: “It’s all about giving back – just to be able to put a little bit of joy in the children’s lives, and that makes a huge difference.
“I think as a person, it also makes you feel good about yourself to contribute when you’re in a position to do so.”
Igesund lauded the hospital’s work, while also heaping praise on the patients.
“The hospital has been doing a fantastic job in giving life to these children. And I must say, they’re very brave kids.
“Children from all walks of life are close to my heart – they need the support.”
Igesund’s links to the hospital date back to the early 2000s when he brought an Ajax Cape Town squad to visit, then returned last year with Bafana players.
Helen White, the spokeswoman for the Children’s Hospital Trust, welcomed Igesund as a partner.
“We are excited that Gordon has chosen to partner with the trust, and we look forward to future initiatives and projects.”
soyiso.maliti@inl.com