Soccer stars pose for a photo with student of Hlotse LEC Primary after giving them clothes and school shoes
LIKUENA stars, Mabuti Potloane Kamela and Jerry Kamela, as well as former Matlama midfielder Pali Tšalong on Friday collaborated with the Mikia Kalati Sports Foundation in donating 30 pairs of shoes to Hlotse LEC Primary and Hlotse High School students.
Potloane told the Sunday Express on the side-lines of the handover ceremony it was important for them to plough back into the communities that support local football. Both Potloane and Kamela hail from Leribe district and former Hlotse High School students.
“We know how difficult it is for some of these kids to focus on their studies without some of the basics like shoes,” he said.
“Our intention was to reach out to some of the underprivileged kids and encourage them to never to give up despite tough life challenges.”
Kamela said football contributed immensely to his personal development.
“Football has played a major role in my life since the clubs I played for during my high schools days paid my school fees,” the 2015/16 Vodacom Premier League Player of the Season said.
“Apart from that, supporters use their hard-earned money to watch us play week-in and week-out, and this is our way of saying thank you to them.
For his part, Tšalong said making a difference in the lives of young underprivileged children was the best feeling in the world.
“We had to dig deep in our pockets to make this initiative work, but after all is said and done, we are very pleased to have made a difference,” the former Matlama and Bantu midfielder said.
“It does not end here, because we have realised that a lot of kids are suffering.”