To the Chairman, Coaches, Players and Parents of HVFC,
Tomorrow, Sunday June 10th, is a big day for Rifti Valley Soccer Academy, formally known as Rogai Ajax. The Academy is entering two junior teams - and play their first games - in a league competition for the first time.
The reason they can do this is due to the hugely generous and swift response from everyone at HVFC to our appeal for kit. Previously, the club were not able to enter because it is a tournament that requires all players to wear boots or trainers, a requirement that the Rongai team were not able to fulfil because the boys come from very poor backgrounds (they live in a slum area) and don't have boots. They have previously played in bare feet or slip on plastic shoes (a bit like Crocs).
Now, due to your extraordinary response to our appeal, the boys not only have boots but they have a black and white strip. As someone who has stood on the sideline cheering on HVFC teams, it brought a lump to my throat watching these young lads walking an inch taller in the same strip. You may have seen on our RVSA website that the newly named club also has a new badge, adopting a Zebra logo to match their HVFC colours.
These kids are not ferried to games by their parents and often play on empty stomachs. Previously, they have been unable to attend some friendly matches because the boys cannot afford the transport which can be around £1 per player. Part of the support we are hoping to provide is money for transport and food on match days. In the coming days, we are going to launch an appeal to fund these expenses which will add up to around £50 per game.
The second phase of our plans is to broaden the Academy into a club that will cater for girls as well; and which will be able to take in many more children. These are kids that need structure, support and a lot of love.
Through the RVSA website, we intend to update you on the progress of the RVSA teams, introduce you to the players and tell you a little about their lives. You will learn that while they are growing up in tough circumstances; these are boys that laugh a lot, have huge ambitions and just love their football. So please sign up for updates and send your messages of support through the comments sections.
The boys, who are all very religious, sent their thanks to you in their post-training prayers on Wednesday evening. They want to repay you by winning the league trophy. I fear they may need longer to learn how to play in boots!
Thankyou to everyone at HVFC. We knew you'd respond but have been truly humbled by the scale.
Best wishes,
Steve Andrews, on behalf of our family and everyone at RVSA.
PS. Special thanks to Jim and Angie Kraft for their big efforts to collect the boots and start the fundraising.
