MR.SA 2008 Finalist Helgard Marais: Soweto Community Soccer Team

As I grew up as a relatively privileged child I always remember those around me who where not as privileged as myself. Thankfully I had parents with good morals and ethics who raised me in a non-judgmental way teaching me that all people should be treated equally the same regardless of race, age, beliefs or monetary value. However I was also taught that if you find yourself in a position to give you should use that opportunity to give back to others and for this reason I choose to give back to the community on a very basic level. This team needed so little to make a big difference for them so in my capacity of Finalist for Mr. SA 2008. I choose to support captain Tshepo Sephiri and his team by applying some of the funds I raised during my fundraising event (See Public awareness section for details thereof) to get their team kitted out with new team clothing that they desperately required.

This community soccer team was established in September 2007 by a group of dynamic Soweto men, who saw an opportunity to utilise their knowledge in health issues and their status and power as outstanding men in their communities. All of these men are involved in some way or the other in the health field in their professional careers. The goal was to establish a soccer team with a difference and indeed they have done so. Besides loving soccer and playing games and participating in tournaments in their free time, this team’s goal is to meet new men on the soccer field or side line and openly discuss men’s health issues and sexual transmitted disease issues. By doing this on a social level they have become well know in their communities and men all over now feel comfortable to casually and in a non threatening environment discuss issues with which they need assistance. This group of men are true role models within their communities reaching out and doing their bit to educate and assist men of all ages with such important issues.

As a Finalist for Mr. SA 2008 that stands for being a role model myself, making a difference where ever I can, I am proud to support fellow role models like these men who give back to their communities without recognition, glamour publicity and financial reward.