SWEDISH national, Lasse Persson, recently brought with him a large consignment of football gear which he donated to the Khoendi Soccer League in the Erongo Region.
Persson, who works for Radio Stockholm, the Swedish national radio service, was in Namibia in May to train television sport reporters on how to report on the 2010 Fifa World Cup. During one of his forays to the Erongo Region he came upon the popular ‘peoples league’ and was surprised and impressed by their passion for football.
‘They were playing barefoot, and with an old ball,’ Persson said. ‘It was just amazing. I had never seen anything like it.’
Upon his return to Sweden, Persson spread the word about his Namibian escapade on his radio station and requested for the community to donate old football gear – boots, shirts, balls etc – so he could bring them down to the Spitzkoppe community.
‘We collected over 140 kilograms worth of this gear but then we faced the dilemma of getting it to Namibia.
‘After struggling to get a sponsor who would fund the cost for the gear, we approached DHL and they told us they would bring it down here for free,’ said Persson of the stock that arrived in Namibia last week.
The league’s founder Mini Uiseb said his community are indebted to the Swede, whom they describe as ‘sent from God’.
‘People were crying in disbelief,’ said Uiseb, who is a Government health professional by profession. Uiseb said the playing equipment would be fairly divided amongst the teams.
‘The league is very close to the people of this community and they appreciate this gift very much.
‘It means so much to the players as well.
‘Now they can play in matching kits and some will have shoes.’
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