Marapyane, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

	Kenilwe Mokoena & Keamoge Tswemashiane		Both Aged: 15 Sport codes: Netball, volleyball, football
			“Sport has influenced people in the community to join us. They are very impressed! Since joining SCORE and The Cup of Heroes, it has been a great journey, a pleasurably one with my new friend!” Kenilwe Mokoena

Kenilwe and Keamoge both met just under a year ago, at a training session for Cup of Heroes. “At first we didn’t know each other at all and we were so shy to talk to each other. Sport helped us communicate and we helped each other improve.” Now ‘best friends’ the two have together seen sport transform their community. .

“Before we met at the netball court, I was just at home doing nothing. Just eating snacks and getting fat!” said Kenilwe. “Now I’ve changed my routine and have to focus on sport and balance my studies. It takes a lot to be committed to The Cup of Heroes, but together we have achieved a lot and found the true benefits from sport.”

Teams in The Cup of Heroes undertake research of another country. This component exercises players to develop their research and presentation skills as well as find out more about another country and culture. “For our country presentations, we had to train ourselves to memorise information. At first it was difficult, but now you can ask me anything about Spain!” Kenilwe confidently says.

SCORE’s mission to equip children and youth with valuable skills and opportunities they need to contribute to their communities is practiced through the Community Service component of The Cup of Heroes programme. The Cup of Heroes team in Marapyane decided to make a change in their community by clearing a path used by school children. “Our community service was hard work, we had to chop down trees from 11 till 6, but we don’t regret it, as the community will benefit,” said Keamoge.

The International Cup of Heroes tournament gives players the opportunity to leave their community and meet like-minded youth from across Southern Africa.

“We want to thank SCORE for the opportunity and hope that others grab it with both hands. It has inspired our ambitions in the future. Now we are addicted!” says Kenilwe Mokoena.