One man’s trash is another man’s treasure…
This old adage resonates especially with the Sport Stepping Stones (SSS) Football Academy after they received sponsored second-hand football equipment that will not only aid with their local development programs but will also help underprivileged young football talent to realise their dreams.
This is all thanks to the Good Samaritan James Murray from the United Kingdom whose charity ‘Supporting the Future’ has made it his (annual) mission to ensure that he gives back to the less fortunate as it gives him immense satisfaction and purpose.
“I took suitcases from England and donations from England and America and brought them to Cape Town,” Murray explained to No Bones with Jones.
“I also travel to other African countries like Kenya and Lesotho where I distribute items so it could be balls, shirts, shorts, trousers, bibs, cones, and all things soccer related.
“I go to different townships and areas in Cape Town and I give out the items to the teams and schools in need,” he added.
Murray admitted that his background vastly differs from the countries and places where he conducts his charity work and that he has been privy in more ways than one.
The Brit highlighted that his love to give back to the underprivileged in Africa where the need is dire is very fulfilling, but nothing compares to the Mother City.
“I love the scenery, as everywhere you go there’s mountains in the distance and I love how people love football as much as the people in England do. Obviously, they don’t have access to the nice items that we have.
“The items that we have back in England people there would deem old or unwanted.
“I try and bring them back to life by bringing them here which I personally think is still in great condition and give them a new home here in Cape Town to different teams.”
Murray’s connection with SSS Acadamy stretches back more than a decade when the “Balls to poverty” programe was launched with Jeff Isaacs (late) and the SSS CEO Boebie Cassiem.
“Due to this initiative, I could come to Cape Town on three occasions and therefore it has a close space in my heart and at that time they were linked with SSS.
“So, my only contact I had when I started my own charity was SSS in Cape Town and therefore I decided to partner up with them.
“They (SSS) now ensure my safety when I travel to the various townships as I don’t think I would be safe on my own,” Murray jokingly pointed out.
“SSS Football Academy is an arm of SSS and I want to make sure that I help them every time I come to Cape Town as a way of saying thanks to SSS for taking me on when I am here.”
Murray emphasized that his long-term vision for his charity is to start his own full-time academy in South Africa, Lesotho and Kenya.
“I want to develop soccer players to give them the opportunity to maybe go to Europe, to study or to play and to hopefully try to give them a better life – even if it is a better life within SA.”
Meanwhile, SSS Academy’s chairman, Ebrahiem “Hiema” Mustapha, said they are blessed to be the recipient of Murray’s charity.
“He (Murray) made us aware of how to use (limited) conditions and resources and still conduct proper training sessions,” said Mustapha.
“Our academy will definitely benefit, with our head coach Shaheen Khan who will be able to get the best out of our team.
“Even with a group of 30 players at the training sessions in a small area with limited resources,” Mustapha added.
One Response
James is phenomenal. He also assisted my NGO in Langa, Project Playground. We are just one of the many beneficiaries. Thank you James Murray.