Former homeless man coaches children soccer
ZANDSPRUIT – Former homeless man starts a soccer team in Zandspruit
Former homeless man Everest Mpasi brings a message of hope to the children of Zandspruit.
The Zimbabwean-born slept on the cold pavements of petrol stations covering his body with cardboard boxes for over a year.
But today he is helping children reach their full potential and trying hard to keep them away from the streets.
Mpasi coaches them soccer and, he is also their life coach.
“I have gone through a lot in the streets and I don’t wish the same thing to happen to any child out there,” said Mpasi.
He said he hopes his initiative will help get the children off the streets.
“Children’s minds today are fed with so many horrifying stories of crime, drugs and these things stay in their minds. Everything stays on the inside but once it is out, they can go on with their lives,” said Mpasi.
Two of the projects Mpasi works with are: Impumelelo Phabili and Africa Let’s Play in Zandspruit.
He said he is now mentoring over 60 children.
Mpasi said, “Some play soccer and netball while some I help with school work and other social problems they are facing every day,” he said.
“I am looking at education, where I teach them to empower themselves and also I host support groups,” said Mpasi, adding that children needed to know that there is life outside Zandspruit.
Mpasi said he came to South Africa in 2008 as a tourist, but got stuck in the country, ending up on the streets.
“One day I came across a group of little Zandspruit boys playing soccer and they didn’t have a coach. That is where my new life started,” said Mpasi.
Mpasi, who was also a coach back in his home country, started working with these children, helped them look for sponsors, and started teaching them to pray and believe in God.
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