Stars in their Eyes

Stars in their Eyes was a pioneer in the concept of ‘twinning’. Designed as a truly international programme to benefit disadvantaged coaches and players in South Africa, Stars took it a step further.

The programme in essence is about building relationships. In addition to football coaching skills, community coaches are also taught how to give lifeskills training to the children. Stars creates more structured soccer practice sessions, but also have many other positive spin-offs for the disadvantaged communities, such as: keeping children away from drugs, breaking the hold of gangs, building children's self-respect, bringing the community together and encouraging women to play soccer.

Originally, when Stars and its South African sports partners identified South African disadvantaged communities in which an urgent need existed for social stability, the decision was taken to ‘twin’ or ‘partner’ these communities (inlcuding its community coaches) on a one-on-one with football clubs in the Netherlands.

The ongoing communication and friendships between the South African community coaches and their ‘twinned’ Dutch clubs ensures that the benefits of the training is not diluted as time progresses. Personal visits to the South African villages by the Dutch partners certainly has helped Stars to become a powerful locomotive, which powers a 'train of change'. Any organisation from within the Dutch villages is welcome to come on board, and to create synergy with Stars.

Our Dutch partners have organised many events to raise funds and support for Stars in their Eyes, such as 'Blauw Wit - Stars' and 'SV Hoofddorp Stars Voetbaldagen' and 'Larry Joe and Stars at Papendrecht'.

During the past five years many wonderful partnerships and friendships have developed. Dutch trainers who visit their communities in South Africa often say that they are getting much more in return in terms of friendships, new lessons in life, and a new view on the way the world can function. Some examples of the impact of the twinning model....

Above: Dutch trainers Chris Schuthof and Martijn Blijleven (SV Hoofddorp) with some children of the community of Ashton

Above: Dutch trainers Harry Goos and Patrick Postuma (ASV Dronten) with some children of the community of Worcester

Above: Dutch trainer Denniz Zaal (VV Papendrecht) with two his South African community coaches

Above: Dutch trainer Henk Buning (Blauw Wit 34)  with children from the local community

Above: Dutch trainer Ard Hunting (RKSV Nuenen) with community coaches from Jonkershoek

Hans Schrijnemaekers of RKVVV Bekkersveld during a community clinic in Langa

AND AS WE LET OUR LIGHT SHINE, WE UNCONSCIOUSLY

GIVE OTHER PEOPLE PERMISSION TO DO THE SAME....