by Lerato Dumse

Imagine being part of a soccer team awarded a partial grant to participate in the 2013 World Out games in Antwerp, Belgium.

Now imagine not being able to seize that opportunity due to lack of funds.

This is a reality for Chosen Few lesbian soccer team, who hosted a fundraising event on 16 June 2013, at the Peter Roos Park in Parktown, Johannesburg.

The grant awarded by the World Outgames organizers covers 14 players. Who will receive free registration, free accommodation and a small contribution towards their travel costs.

However the is still a monumental task of raising enough money to cover other costs. Such as Visas; flight tickets and proper training material.

The event which coincided with youth day, was kick started with a soccer six asides. Teams which participated include; Spy2, Open Closet, Naledi Stars, Thembisa Funk, 1in9, Old Park and Soweto Funk.

Teams and individuals paid registration to participate in the day’s events. Old Park was crowned as champions and Thembisa Funk as runner’s up.

Chosen FEW members were then challenged to a game of rugby,by the newly formed Wham queer social rugby.

It was interesting to see soccer players being courageous and tackling their opposition and doing their own version of the Haka dance.

With the first part of the programme completed, the crowed moved to the other side of the park for more inclusive games.

Scrabble, 30 seconds, Twister and Volleyball were played. Kids had their faces painted, all of this was part of raising funds.

The soccer team is a project of the Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW).
Chosen FEW has previously participated in international LGBTI sporting events, like the Chicago Gay Games in 2006 (winning a bronze medal), the London Football Championship in 2008 (placing fourth) and the 2010 Cologne Gay Games (winning third place).

The World Outgames are a global event that takes place every four years, hosted by a selected city. WOGA cater for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning and Intersex (LGBTQI) community and open minded friends based upon three equal pillars: Sport, Culture and Human rights.

Those who wish to assist can make their contributions to:
Account Name: Forum for the Empowerment of Women

Account number: 406 053 8374

Bank: Absa

Branch code: 6320025

Branch Name: Eastgate

Swift code: ABSAZAJJ

Reference: Chosen FEW

For more info/ support please contact the following:

Deekay Sibanda 011 403 1906 email project1@few.org.za

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2013 May 17: One sided fight against Homophobia and Transphobia

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2013 June 1: Zandile’s 21st birthday photos

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2013 May 6: Archiving Noxolo Nogwaza’s funeral

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2013 March 28: Feather Awards (re)viewed

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2011 May 13:  Kwa-Thema Praying for homophobic victims.

and

2011 May 3:  Black Easters for black lesbian community