The afternoon started out quiet - but that soon changed as the van I drove quickly filled up with African boys excited about playing their first game of indoor soccer for Preston Salvos United.
Soccer for Social Inclusion (S4SI) is a new initiative of Darebin African Resource Centre (DARC), and we (Preston Corps) have just become the proud sponsors of two of the eight teams in the competition.
Arriving nervous but excited the boys soon summed up their opposition and decided that they had faith - faith that they were about to loose. But as the coach handed out their new strip, a red or yellow shirt with a Red Shield, shorts, shin guards and socks the boys smiles revealed an amazing transformation into confident, proud young people.
The party atmosphere at the venue reached fever pitch as a DJ materialised from nowhere and setup very loud African music, young people danced and sang in between cheering on the
competing teams. And as the air in the waiting area became thick with the smells of spray on deodorant and perfume, young boys and girls strutted their stuff - confident, proud and completely accepting of each other.As each of our teams took to the 'field' the soccer skills (surprisingly) matched the shiny new outfits and Preston Salvos United Juniors and Seniors literally danced away from the venue with a very convincing win each.
