When Tottenham players are tardy for training or have nights out that contravene club rules, eight South African orphans celebrate.
Were it not for the Premier League players being fined, the small group of children from families ravaged by AIDS and violence — or both — would likely not be living in a US$90,000 bungalow in suburban Rustenburg.
“When you come here and see this, it’s fantastic that the lads were late,” England defender Michael Dawson said after visiting the house funded by his Spurs teammates on Tuesday for the first time. “If the players come down and see this, they won’t mind getting fined.”
Tottenham Hotspur House, which opened in 2008, is one of 10 which are each home to eight children and a foster parent on a well-kept street off the main highway in Rustenburg, minutes from the city’s World Cup stadium and England’s base for the tournament.
England’s Football Association has funded another of the properties.
There’s almost nothing to distinguish these houses in the SOS Children’s Village from those in the neighboring streets. There are no signs. No stigma for the orphans.
“I’m surprised by it. I think it looks really good,” Matthew Upson said, joining his England teammate Dawson on the trip. “It’s probably as normal a residential-street style environment that you can have for kids. You can play football in the street, ride your bike. It looks very pleasant.”
There was one child Dawson particularly wanted to meet: 12-year-old Aubrey, the boy whom he sponsors but had never seen in person.
They quickly bonded over a love of soccer, heading the ball to each other on the field opposite Aubrey’s house.
“I’ve seen pictures of him, so to finally come out here and meet is great,” Dawson said. “And he can play football as well.”
There were only a few ruffles when Aubrey chose the day of Dawson’s visit to wear a Manchester United shirt emblazoned with “Rooney” — the United and England star striker. The situation was rectified by the time Dawson left.
“Aubrey knows I play for Spurs, but if he’s a Manchester United fan you can’t change that,” Dawson said. “We’ve given him an England shirt so I’m sure he’ll be happy with that!”
Dawson was pleased to get a glimpse — however briefly — of an Africa vastly different from the plush Rustenburg hotel where he has been based for 10 days.
“It opens your eyes to the real world,” Dawson said. “But we’ve come here today to try to put a smile on their faces.”
Mpho, 17, was forced to move here five years ago when her grandmother could no longer afford to house her. Both her parents died when she was nine.
“I think some kind of an illness — my grandparents didn’t tell me,” she said.
South Africa has an estimated 5.7 million people infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and it leaves thousands of children orphaned.
“A lot of people don’t have these projects, and those kids don’t have a chance,” local soccer coach Giancirlo Billossini said.
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