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
Related articles
2013 April 21: Living a legacy is always better than leaving a legacy
Previous articles by Lerato
2013 May 17: One sided fight against Homophobia and Transphobia
and
2013 June 1: Zandile’s 21st birthday photos
and
2013 May 6: Archiving Noxolo Nogwaza’s funeral
and
2013 March 28: Feather Awards (re)viewed
and
2011 May 13: Kwa-Thema Praying for homophobic victims.
and
Pingback: 2013 June 24: @ 25 revisited two months later | inkanyiso.org
Pingback: 2013 July 24: Letters of support for @ 25 from fellow activists and allies | inkanyiso.org
Pingback: 2013 August 9: For the love of sport activism | inkanyiso.org
Pingback: 2013 July 31: Highlights from World Outgames Human Rights conference and after | inkanyiso.org
Pingback: 2015 Aug. 14: A football match like no other | inkanyiso.org