Donated football kits "a thrill of a lifetime" for children in poverty

Tuesday 08 June 2021

Football kits and other sporting equipment is being shipped 6,000 miles across the globe to the townships of South Africa for under-privileged children.

In the tough environment of the Cape Flats, it’s very special to have your own football boots, but many parents cannot afford to buy kit for their children.

Charity is their only chance of getting something that resembles the footwear of their footballing heroes, and Guernsey's KitXchange is providing just that. 

For the last seven years, hundreds of shirts that have graced many a Guernsey football field have travelled a full 6,000 miles to Cape Town, where they are welcomed with open arms by young football fans. 

Pictured: The Goal50 KitXchange consignment begins its journey to the townships of the Cape Flats. Nick Renouf, Sales Manager at DHL Guernsey Sales Manager Nick Renouf, Clara Le Vallée from KitXchange, and Goal50 Founder Nigel Pascoe. 

Not that the distribution of kit is a straightforward process. The South African-based Goal50 distribution team have learnt that boots can only be borrowed from the boot bank and not given to individuals, as boots are easily stolen and sold on by others.

“We support these types of initiatives in our attempt to reshape this sort of cultural behaviour,” said Nigel Pascoe, Founder of Goal50. "But changing a culture to one of respect for the property of others takes time. We’re in this for the long haul.” 

Orchestrator of KitXchange, Clara Le Vallée, is deeply grateful to local businesses, sports clubs, corporate teams, schools and scores of individuals who have made regular donations.

“There’ll never be enough to meet the demand so we’ll keep asking Guernsey to help us…and I’m sure that they will deliver.”

Pictured: Children playing street football without footwear. 

Mrs Le Vallée estimates that she and her sons have packed more than 2,500 items since KitXchange began. DHL will deliver the current consignment to Cape Town by the end of June.

The kit sent to Cape Town is a mix of adult and junior. The most sought-after items are replica Premier League club kits, as township children are more inclined to follow the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal than any South African club team. 

Despite football being the primary focus, KitXchange is not limited to just the one sport and welcomes donations of shirts, kit and footwear that is no longer needed or has been outgrown. 

“We’ve sent a full squad netball kit and running vests before," said Mrs Le Vallée. “We can always find a good home for sports clothing. If you have something you could recycle, please call me on 07781 452 336 or email me on pixie@cwgsy.net and your contribution will make the next consignment.

"Donated items are met with great joy in the townships. For many, it represents a new set of clothes as they possess only the clothing that they are wearing.”