May 4 2005
SOS Children's Villages among charities to benefit from Radebe testimonial
04/05/2005 - The proceeds of Monday's testimonial match for Lucas Radebe will go to eight of the Leeds United defender's favoured charities, including SOS Children's Villages. Radebe, a former captain of the South African national team "Bafana, Bafana", is among the most committed of the 50 plus FIFA/SOS ambassadors.
Nearly 38,000 fans turned up for Radebe's testimonial match on 2 May at Leeds' Elland Road stadium in Northern England to bid farewell to the defender, who joined the English club in 1994 and previously played for South African club Kaizer Chiefs. At the testimonial, Radebe played for both teams as a World XI beat a Leeds United All-Star squad 7-3.
Radebe will give all of the proceeds of the testimonial to eight of his favoured causes including SOS Children's Villages. The South African player became a "FIFA for SOS Children's Villages" ambassador in 1998 and since then has regularly visited children in the organisation's care in his native country.
Radebe, who grew up in the slums during the era of apartheid in South Africa, is aware of the plight of the world's destitute children and has often underlined the importance of going out and "touching their lives". He said: "You have to tell them that you were just like them ... I'd like them to believe that they can make it!"