More HCT Success!

One of the most important programs Grassroot Soccer runs is our HCT Tournament.  An HIV Counseling and Testing tournament unites all aspects of our organization into one crazy day of GRS fun.  September 29th marks another one of these tournaments.  This is a day where we welcome members of the Kimberley community to participate in soccer and GRS activities, watch from the sidelines, and test for HIV to accomplish the ever-important feat of knowing your status.

Thanks New Start!

For this particular HCT we held both a boys and girls tournament where 10 boys teams fought it out, while only 2 girls teams played for victory.  For our next HCT we hope to have more girls teams, come on ladies!  While some teams played, and the Kim Staff ran around preparing lunch, sorting out the schedule, and taking care of logistics, Skillz Coaches ushered their teams to the HIV testing area.  New Start Bloemfontein, our faithful testing partner, set up tents where they would start and finish the HIV testing and counseling process.  By the end of the day they tested 204 members of the Kim community, including soccer players, GRS coaches, GRS staff and interns, and any one else who was around and felt it was time to "Know the Game"- to know their status.

     Here's a clip of two of the boys teams!

                      And here are the 2 girls teams!     


The Kimberley Stars ended up taking the championship for the boys side, and FNB won their match for the girls.  Along with other prizes like cleats and gear, the champions now have their team's name engraved on this beautiful trophy (seen below), courtesy of Trophy & Gift Centre in Kimberley.  Thanks to the guys at this shop, New Start, the LFA (coaches association) for organizing teams, and Eskort for donating food, the GRS KimTeam was able to hold another successful HCT Tournament.

Kimberley Stars - Champions! (With GRS Kim site coordinator, Thuso Jones)

With every program, every intervention, every activity, and every individual tested for HIV, Grassroot Soccer is one step closer to achieving our goal of an HIV free generation.  Let's keep up the good work as we move into another month of interventions, graduations, and all the behind-the-scenes labor that goes into this great GRS site every day. Kimba love all the way.