Two youth from the Kick 4 Life programme meet Beckham and the England team
Two boys from Kick 4 Life’s programme in Lesotho had the trip of a lifetime when they were flown more than six thousand miles to meet some of the biggest names in world football to raise awareness of HIV.
Just two months before, 14 year-old Tsehla Rachere had tested negative for HIV during a Kick 4 Life Test Your Team event in Maseru. Over 350 other children were tested that day, with those who were found to be positive subsequently referred to life-saving anti-retroviral treatment. Tsehla’s test had taken place in unique circumstances, in the presence of England manager Fabio Capello during an English FA visit to the African country. It was an experience that led an emotional Capello to champion the role of football as a tool for social good, and which saw Tsehla presented with an incredible opportunity.
Funded by the Sun newspaper, Tsehla and his friend Keketso Maanela, 15, who is HIV positive, were flown to London where they attended an England training session, meeting the likes of David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard. Keketso said: “I discovered I was HIV positive in 2005. I was put on life-saving drug treatment and now I feel great and normal again. It’s not nice to hear you are HIV positive, but as time goes by you have to accept it.”
Keketso is part of the Mamohato Network for HIV positive children- an initiative set up by Prince Seesio and Prince Harry’s charity Sentebale that aims to empower children with the communication and life skills that help them to deal with and live with their HIV status. The network was set up to provide much needed education about living with HIV for children in Lesotho and to offer them a safe, loving and respectful environment. Kick 4 Life deliver their life skills curriculum to youth throughout the network.
During the meet up at England’s training ground David Beckham said: “I read about Mr Capello watching the young boy having an HIV test and it was very moving. It’s very important to break down the stigma around HIV.”
Pete Fleming, K4L Director, said: "This was a fantastic opportunity for the boys to meet some of their heroes. The England team are huge stars in Africa and having them meet the boys is important in breaking down the prejudice surrounding HIV. It has also to further promote the positive changes that can be achieved through the power of football.”