Tempest and Mango Take us Flying Past 900

2009-11-11

The Dreamfields Project was carried past a most significant milestone by two very special partners – in exactly the right kind of setting. The venue was the small rural Free State town of Jagersfontein, about 100 kilometres  south of Bloemfontein. And the contributors who made this possible were Mango and Tempest, who have been working with Dreamfields since early 2008. When partners Mango and Tempest decided to host a DreamEvent in the Free State, Jagersfontein was chosen as most of the players come from farm schools.

DreamEvents sponsored by Mango and Tempest have now been held in Gauteng, Kwazulu-Natal, Cape Town and in Free State. A total of 59 schools have now benefited from these two committed supporters of football for young people.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be part of the Dreamfields project,” says Janita Edwards, Sales and Marketing Director of Tempest Car Hire.” We look forward to engaging with this community and giving learners the opportunity to succeed and become great sports achievers.”

The players had to battle against very windy conditions at the Itumeleng Sports Ground but the passion of local fans and teachers more than made up for it.At every opportunity supporters would run onto the field to offer players advice and words of encouragement. 

Hein Kaiser, Communication Manager for Mango shares in this kind of enthusiasm. “Sport, and soccer in particular, not only has the power to unite but also to provide significant social and positive cultural influences on tomorrow’s leaders,” he says. “Partnerships such as Dreamfields, between business and communities, stretch beyond the usual corporate social initiatives – it delivers meaning and provides an opportunity for entire companies to become actively involved.”

St Lawrence Primary School won the final match and lifted the coveted Dreamfields trophy. Mango also gave the winning team an extra set of shirts and shorts. Every player went home with something – a participation medal and a soccer ball of their own, to practice with and to bring other children into the Dreamfields net.

Our current DreamBag total stands at 907 – that means 13 605 young footballers have been equipped with brand new kit. Of course, each one of those 13 605 children is an individual, with dreams and memories of their own. Like Thembankosi Dasheka from Tshwaraganang Primary School, who had this to say about the Jagersfontein DreamEvent:  “I played well on this Saturday, and to play like this is something that makes us happy. We played with love in the kits you gave to us, especially the new soccer boots.”

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