Ambassador Guus Hiddink travelled to South Africa, visited existing projects, opened 3 brand new Cruyff Courts and celebrated 20 years of impact .
Johan Cruyff opened the very first international Cruyff Court in 2004 in the South African township of Elandsdoorn, 200 km north of Johannesburg. In the following years more Cruyff Courts opened and numerous Cruyff Foundation Coaches were trained to supervise sports and play activities on a daily basis. Guus Hiddink experienced the impact of the projects that the Cruyff Foundation is running there nowadays.
Guus mentioned “Johan would have been incredibly fulfilled to see the impact of his Cruyff Foundation in South Africa. He was proud of his career, but he would have loved this even more."
Watch the video of the trip below.
Hugo Tempelman, founder of the Ndlovu Care Group, a nonprofit organization in health care and community development, realized the first Cruyff Court in Elandsdoorn. Hugo recognized that the Cruyff Foundation's mission perfectly matched that of his own organization. He personally contacted Johan Cruyff to build a Cruyff Court near his hospital and community center. For 20 years now, children from the townships have been able to play and develop there through sports.
Hugo Tempelman: "Our common goal is to give children direction in life, teach them discipline and give them a future."
Together with Afrika Tikkun, Cruyff Court Diepsloot and Cruyff Court Mfuleni were constructed. Afrika Tikkun is a local partner NGO with tremendous impact, providing long-term support to South African children from "cradle to career".
Cruyff Court Namakgale is the 3rd new South African Cruyff Court. The AFAS Foundation, Fijn Event, and the NGO Friends of Bambanani contributed to making this a reality. A center for children with disabilities was also constructed on site.
“We are convinced that the Cruyff Court, will help to put this Disabled Center in the spotlight, because from then on everyone will come to the Disability Center instead of ignoring it.” said Ed Rakhorst of Friends of Bambanani.
South Africa is a focus area for the Cruyff Foundation. Currently, there are 7 Cruyff Courts and in November 2024, new Cruyff Foundation Coaches will be trained. Over the coming years, the Foundation aims to continue growing in this region with the ambition of having nearly 20 Cruyff Courts there by 2030.
We continue what Johan Cruyff started! # CruyffLegacy#CreatingSpace
Johan Cruyff in South Africa, 2004.
