“In order to achieve, you need to believe in yourself.” These words were spoken by Kaizer Chiefs’ Itumeleng Khune to about a hundred children at the offices of the Kliptown Youth Program in Kliptown, a suburb of Soweto. The goalkeeper went there to hand over brand new shoes to 50 disadvantaged children.

The great Indian independence leader Mahatma Ghandi used to stress: “Be the change you want to see.” Those are words close to Khune’s heart as the Amakhosi loves giving back to the community.

Earlier this week the Chiefs goalkeeper visited the Kliptown Youth Program (KYP), which provides opportunities for 460 kids from the age of seven to 18 (basically, grade 1 to 12). Nearly all the kids come from an extremely poor background.

“For example, we help the kids with literacy and internet access for which we have 22 computers,” explains KYP’s executive director Thulani Madondo some of their programs. “We also assist with after school tutoring for the various age groups and, besides that, the kids get two meals per day, six days per week. Most of the children come from families without hope for a better future. That’s why we try to help these kids to become architects of their own hope.”

Khune listens attentively when Madondo explains the different programs. One of the young girls, Buhle, follows the Amakhosi goalkeeper with hawk eyes. “I am a great Chiefs fan and he’s my favourite player,” she says. ‘He’s so cute!” Another girl, Linah, exclaims: “I am so touched that the Bafana captain comes to see us!”

Before handing over the shoes, Khune talks to the more or less hundred children in attendance. First, he asks the kids to sing South Africa’s national anthem Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika. They do that with commitment and enthusiasm.

Then, Khune starts talking: “This was a test, because whatever you do, you must do it wholeheartedly. You passed the test with flying colours, as you sang with your whole heart.”

“We need to build the future leaders of our country. To achieve that, you need to invest in yourself. From today, from this moment, I want you to get a better vision of yourself. What I see now is nothing new to me, because I lived that way. But I managed to get out of that situation with the support of my family. However, I haven’t forgotten where I come from and that’s why I am here with you.”

“I am from Ventersdorp, the city of Eugène Terre’Blanche. It was not easy. But I have the heart of a lion. I always told myself: ‘I will get myself out of this situation as well as my family.’ I know you are sometimes feeling hopeless. I felt at times hopeless when still in Ventersdorp. To be honest, I sometimes didn’t even feel like a human being. However, I never gave up and I pursued my dreams with full commitment.”

“Of course, there will be obstacles and it will be a steep hill to succeed. But if you say: ‘I want to get there’, you will live a life without regrets, because even if you don’t succeed, you will have at least tried. It’s important to never give up on your dreams.”

“And, please, never think that selling drugs or getting involved in other criminal activities is a quick way out of the present situation. It’s not, because you might end up in jail. If you have talent, don’t cut corners to become a future leader of South Africa.”

“Look at me, who would ever have thought that a young boy from Ventersdorp would one day captain Bafana Bafana? But I believed in myself, worked hard, didn’t cut corners and that’s how I achieved my dream. Do everything you can, to get out of here.”

“I am deeply touched by what I see today. Please, take this opportunity given to you by the Kliptown Youth Program. Don’t let it slip out of your hands. And, please remember, great things take time to happen. Things that you get for free don’t last. But things that you work for will last forever!”

After the motivational talk to the kids, Khune gets a thunderous applause. Thereafter the Chiefs goalkeeper hands out the pair of shoes to the 50 selected kids.

“It gives me satisfaction to give back to the community,” he reflects on an afternoon well spend. “I was like these kids. I followed my dream. I always kept believing in myself, even when times were tough. Today, I am living my dream. These kids are the future of our country. I wanted to INSPIRE them to believe in themselves and to succeed in life.”