SECOND-hand Surf Coast FC uniforms, sent three years ago to the African country of Uganda, have finally reached their destination.<\/p>\n
Torquay-based soccer club Surf Coast FC last week received word from Australian charity Operation Uganda that a boys football team in Abim, rural North Uganda, would don blue and yellow stripes for years to come.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s absolutely fantastic, wonderful to hear from the club\u2019s perspective,\u201d Surf Coast FC president Brett King said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s awesome to see what to us is an old asset get used in such a positive way, it\u2019s an amazing feel-good story for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Torquay-based club sent the uniforms over to Uganda in 2019, but a mixture of COVID-19 and shipping delays severely prolonged the uniforms in reaching its destination.<\/p>\n
A competition is run among the local schools in Abim, however, the self-named \u201cSurf Coast FC boys\u201d will be the only school in the district competing in uniforms due to the poverty faced by children living in the country.<\/p>\n
Mr King encouraged local clubs to consider embarking on a similar path to Surf Coast FC by donating second-hand club resources.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d absolutely suggest to local clubs around the region to consider helping out in a similar way,\u201d Mr King said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe more we can help each other out in the world the world then becomes a better place, and we\u2019re keen to keep engaged in initiatives like this. We as a committee are super proud.\u201d<\/p>\n
Regional development co-ordinator (Geelong region) at Football Victoria Foddy Kyprian said the collaboration between Surf Coast FC, Operation Uganda and Football Victoria is a sign of what is to come from other clubs across the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cSurf Coast FC were one of the clubs that were fantastic to work with for this initiative and supplying all the kits,\u201d Mr Kyprian said.<\/p>\n
\u201cKaren [Evans] from Operation Uganda presented the uniforms to the players, who were simply overjoyed given they don\u2019t ever get anything like this.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really special for the Greater Geelong footballing community, particularly Surf Coast FC, because we were able to make a big, big difference to a whole school of kids.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose uniforms will be passed down for another 10 years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Kyprian said Surf Coast FC treasurer Jenine McCoach played a pivotal role in sending the uniforms to Uganda.<\/p>\n
To learn more about Operation Uganda, head to www.operationuganda.org<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SECOND-hand Surf Coast FC uniforms, sent three years ago to the African country of Uganda, have finally reached their destination. Torquay-based soccer club Surf Coast FC last week received word from Australian charity Operation Uganda that a boys football team in Abim, rural North Uganda, would don blue and yellow stripes for years to come. […]<\/p>\n