Poynton & District Rotary Club have been involved in various projects with the Rotary Satellite club of St Francis for several years through Rotarian John Bissell, who visits his son and family in St Francis Bay, Eastern Cape, South Africa, every year.
A request from the Rotary Satellite club of St Francis for any football kit to give to a junior football team in the Sea Vista Township was proving difficult to fulfil until International Committee Chair Diane Penny overheard a conversation while collecting outside a Poynton supermarket at Christmas.
This resulted in Diane contacting Mike Cash, Chairman of Richmond Rovers Junior football club, which was able to donate several lots of kit, weighing a total of 80kgs.
Fortunately John and wife Anna were travelling to South Africa on the Queen Mary 2 this time, rather than flying, so were able to take the kits as part of their luggage.
The main problem was getting the kits on and off the train at Stockport and Southampton!
One set of kit was handed over by John and Anna Bissell to the St Francis Galaxy football club, whose founder and volunteer coach Thomas Kuka, said It is very important for the kids to have a team identity. They will be so proud to be selected to play and wear this professional football kit".
St Francis Galaxy football club has approximately 25 boy and girl players from Sea Vista ranging in age from 7 to 14. They have no sponsors or other financial assistance and play for the love of the game. Thomass aim in forming the club is to encourage children in his poor community to take pride in their sporting ability and to encourage a healthy active lifestyle.
Enough kit was delivered to also supply 2 other local junior football teams, in Jeffreys Bay and Humansdorf.
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