Ajax Cape Town hosted the Ajax Amsterdam Foundation, De Telegraaf and Ajax TV who were in Cape Town for a five day visit last week. The reason for their trip to Cape Town was to visit all the projects and the work done by Community based projects that the Ajax Community Scheme is currently engaged in.
In 2007, Ajax Amsterdam funded the building of the Ajax Cape Town Cruyff Court in Crossroads, they launched “Mission Kaapstad” and in conjunction with the Dutch newspaper “De Telegraaf” they raised funds that were donated to the Philippi Stadium project.
The Foundation returned to Cape Town to finalise and close the chapter of “Mission Kaapstad” by turning the soil at Philippi and trigger the construction of a training pitch adjacent to the Philippi Stadium. There was also a moment of reflection at the “Wall of Fame” that displays all those who contributed funds to the development of Philippi stadium via “De Telegraff”.
In conjunction with the event, the Ajax Cape Town Community Scheme conducted coaching clinics at both Philippi Stadium and the Cruyff Court working with 200 kids from the local community.
The Ajax Amsterdam Foundation was accompanied by an Ajax Amsterdam TV crew who recorded the following activities while in Cape Town:
– Interviewed the coach and players of the Ajax Cape Town U17 team due to take part in the Aegon Cup in Amsterdam next Month.
– Profiled an Ajax junior player following him home after a game.
– Covered the Coaching Clinics hosted by Ajax Cape Town at the Ajax Cape Town Cruyff Court in Crossroads.
– Covered the “soil turning” at the Philippi Stadium and the Coaching Clinics for 100 kids at the Stadium.
– Shooting footage of the Ajax Urban Soccer program at Newfields Primary School.
– Shooting of the Ajax Hotspots program in Mitchells Plain hosted by the Ajax Community Coaches and the Mitchells Plain Police Services.
– Lastly, the Ajax TV team accompanied an Ajax youth team driver on his rounds to collect youth players for training.
Simone’ Freling, the Ajax Amsterdam PRO and Ajax Foundation Director, was very impressed by what she saw during her visit in Cape Town. She was touched by the Ajax Community Scheme life skills programs with the kids, the Ajax Cape Town coaching clinics, the facilities and infrastructure at Ikamva and the amount of work done by the community coaches on all projects done in the communities.
Shooz Mekuto the Ajax Cape Town PRO said, “It goes without saying that the support given to us by Ajax Amsterdam has contributed to the growth of the team, the work we do in our communities and the development of our youth.
To have Ajax TV showing interested in the work we do in Cape Town confirms the commitment of our “Mother Club” to their community projects in Cape Town.
Not only is their contribution financial, but there is a commitment to be involved at grassroots level with the Ajax Community Scheme. I am happy that the Ajax Amsterdam Foundation will now work closely with Ajax Cape Town community projects.”
Go to: Ajax Foundation in Cape Town
