The Telkom Charity Cup — which is soccer’s contribution to the destitute, elderly and poor — managed this year to raise more than R2-million, the first time in its history that the Charity Cup has been able to raise such an amount.
The money was on Monday distributed to a number of needy organisations.
Fifty-seven charities that work tirelessly to improve the lives of the disabled, children and the aged benefited on Monday with amounts ranging from R10Â 000 to R55Â 000 being given to them by the national soccer league charity trust.
Leepile Taunyane, chairperson of the Telkom National Soccer League Charity Trust, said: ”This competition is significant as it mobilises the soccer fraternity into action to do their bit for those not so fortunate.”
An amount of R235Â 000 was raised in the run-up to the 2003 Charity Cup, R1,3-million from ticket sales, R50Â 000 from suite ticket holders, R190Â 000 from perimeter board sales and R185Â 000 from miscellaneous sources, such as donations and advertising.
The CEO of the Premier Soccer League, Trevor Phillips, said: ‘It works and works well. The day is not about football at Soccer City, but is about the distribution of funds to charity.â€
Phillips added that he would want to see the Cup not being just a one-day event but to stretch to a weekend event.
The Gauteng provincial minister of sport and culture, Mondli Gungubele, said: ‘Football in its life chooses to make a special contribution to those who are marginalised.â€
The jubilant beneficiaries of the Charity Cup money explained what they intended doing with it to help the needy.