Sharing some fun with huge, but little, soccer fans

Pizza, juice and cookies at the Ark.

Every volunteer site had the opportunity to throw an end-of-the-semester event for the kids whom we have been working with for the past several months. For the Ark, we decided, after many ideas fell through, to have a pizza party at the Ark and then take the kids to the last game of the season at the World Cup stadium in Green Point to watch the Ajax (Cape Town's team) play against Maritzburg United. We raised money for the event by hosting a fundraiser at CyBar (a bar in Rondebosch near my house) and selling cupcakes and cookies at the bar. We managed to raise R800 that night , which CIEE matched giving us R1600. I was so excited that we got all of our money straightened out and everyone, kids and volunteers, go to the game free of charge.

All of the kids and volunteers -- we managed to leave and return with the same number of people without a problem.

We tried to keep the soccer game a secret for the boys so it would be a surprise when we hopped on the bus to go to the stadium, but I think a few of them may have either guessed, found out or had an idea of where they were going. Regardless, they were excited, and as were all of us who had never been to the stadium before. When asking the boys what they want to be when they grow up, most of them say rugby or soccer player. For most of them, this was their first trip to see a professional soccer game, and for it to be at the World Cup stadium made it even more exciting.

Keanon, the boy I worked with the most this semester, and me on the bus heading to the stadium.

Security entering the stadium was normal -- searched purses, patted down the boys -- but they also disassembled flags that people brought to the stadium by taking off the stick part and just leaving the cloth flag. I'm guessing the stick could be used as a weapon, even though they were selling the same flags (sticks included) inside the stadium.

World Cup stadium in Green Point.

I can only imagine how amazing a game was during the World Cup. The stadium is huge, so it wasn't completely full for this game, but the stadium was still full of energy and excitement from all of the wild soccer fans. Now, I truly understand the concept of a soccer "hooligan."

Ajax players on the field. (Photo courtesy and the most enthusiastic child photographer I know: Keanon)

Jamie and the boys.

GOAL for Ajax!