The Ten Stars Football Team recently received their second batch of soccer kits and equipment from Prof Pieter Kruger, director of the Centre of Health and Human Performance (CHHP) at the North-West University (NWU).

The CHHP manages this community project of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the NWU that aims to support and contribute to the sustainable development of this local football club, which is based in Potchefstroom.  The club is managed and coached by John Moseki Seitlholo, who works as a messenger at the School of Human Movement Sciences at the NWU.  John started the club in 2000 and aims to turn young kids into future soccer stars and help them to better their lives. 

The team currently has 88 active players in three different divisions, namely under 15, under 19 and under 21. They participate in Dr Kenneth Kaunda under 19 Local League and the under 21 Castle League. The majority of the young players in the club come from poverty-stricken backgrounds and do not have the means to obtain their own soccer kits.  The Faculty of Health Sciences at the NWU has registered this initiative as an official community engagement project, which will allow them to offer much-needed assistance with regard to funding, clothing, equipment, transport, league affiliation and the general well-being of these players.

The formal involvement of the NWU will create a platform where our local youth will benefit from personal sport development on a sustainable basis.

The club’s plan for the coming soccer season is to work hard to realise their dream of playing in the Vodacom League. “I am so glad that the NWU took it upon itself to utilise its infrastructure, support structures and expertise to further develop these players into well-rounded, passionate youths,” John says.

From left to right: Prof Pieter Kruger, director of the NWU Centre of Health and Human Performance, Thabang Sobopha (Ten Stars team caretaker), Dawid Koloza (Ten Stars under 15 coach), Johannes Matube (Ten Stars first-team captain); John M Seitlholo (Ten Stars team head coach), NWU’s Eagi