Africa is waiting in anticipation to host the most spectacular of all sporting events: FIFA World Cup is coming to the football continent. A victory, not only for South Africa, but for thousands of kids and soccer fans in thousands of villages all over Southern Africa and the continent at large.

The beauty of the African continent and it's love affair with football does not end off-course with glamour events in big stadia with tickets so pricy and scarce that only the wealthy and connected get access to the big events. No, kids have been kicking soccer balls around long before mention of 2010 and communities have been feeling, breathing and dreaming football for many years. And when the circus drives out of town, the love affair between the people of Africa and the soccer ball will continue. Dreaming of playing for the big team, laughing about someone's ridiculous blunder or retelling proudly exactly just how that great goal was scored- this is the beat that pumps the soccer blood through the heart of the African continent.

So how do we make sense of this energy, this social capital and communal agent of homogeny in a globalised world that has seen colonialism, exploitation, modernization, development and capitalist democratic reform? How does the little kid kicking a ball made from an inflated condom covered with plastic bags and wool position himself as neighbour of the New Yorker, Londoner and Johannesburger?

It seems that there are individuals, organizations and institutions that honestly aim to address these issues and find answers rooted in reality; not in theory, not in class-rooms or fancy office towers, but at grass-root level. More and more people are trying to incorporate the hunger and passion of football with the real issues of need, poverty, education, health and justice.

An example of these efforts has been realising, of all places, in rural Mozambique. A country that has been torn apart by war, poverty and floods is taking the lead in making the statement that the unifying power of sport can be extended to social and economic concerns. In the town of Manica, in the Province of Manica the group "Desportivo" has been steadily rebuilding their club in the spirit of Barcelona's slogan: "More than a club".

Desportivo strives to use sport as a tool that will enlarge the freedoms of people so that they might choose to live the kind of lives that they might have reason to value. The club has been teaching computer literacy for the past five years, with hundreds of graduates. They have a small English School, started a band that promotes indigenous music and addresses social issues like gender equality and HIV-AIDS. They have u/14, u/17, female, u/21 and Second Division soccer teams. Boys and Girls play basketball, they have rehabilitated the war-torn building and soccer pitch. They are restoring the neglected Portuguese style indoor sport complex to its former pride. The people of Manica, through this soccer club are on the move.

Projects of this nature and magnitude are obviously not an easy feat to accomplish and the historic landscape is scattered with many monuments of failure. But the resolve of the Manicans have been met with the interest and involvement of key partners and friends. Over the past five years the University of Johannesburg (UJ) has been involved and committed to the dream of Desportivo de Manica, providing computers, sports equipment, managerial assistance and even sending students and staff to present training seminars.

UJ also paid and facilitated a tour to Johannesburg in 2007 which was an unforgettable and highly educational experience for 24 lucky Manican soccer players. In November 2007 UJ donated a further R 62 000 towards the building of the Desportivo training centre that houses an internet café, living quarters for 16 soccer players, an English Room and the Computer training facility. This building is to be the start and hub of a relational and organic SADC Research Centre.

The involvement of UJ seems like a shot of good luck, but the Manica story moves from luck to fairy tale with the entry of the London based Laureus Sport Foundation that has just announced a R180 000 grant for Desportivo de Manica! This is testimony that perseverance and self-belief does pay off. Hard work and determination can lead to success beyond that which seems possible. This is the kind of story that can give hope to all those other towns and communities fighting and struggling to raise the standard of living for their kids. As the Mozambicans say: A luta continua- the struggle continues...

"Just keep up the good fight and keep hoping and believing, because once you achieve some small wins, success will breed success" says UJ project manager Schalk van Heerden. And his words seems to ring true, as 2008 witnesses one of Mozambique's top coaches, the 48 year-old Aleixo Fumo stepping down from First Division to join the Desportivo Manica project. Aleixo feels passionate that soccer should aid the education and character of young individuals and that is why he will now apply his trade in Manica. Aiming to take the newly promoted 2nd Division team to Mozambique's First Division. "It's about creating role-models" facilitating the rise of heroes, kids need heroes..." said a pensive Nelson Veremo, Executive Director of Desportivo.

To this purpose of creating heroes, Chelsea FC, through Shaun Gore contributed greatly by donating their first team training kit and today the players in Manica are intimidating their opponents by sporting the jerseys of Drogba, Lampard and Essien!

Desportivo has seen the worst of times in its 20-year history. They have stared lack of resources, lack of hope and lack of help in the face. Yet they have persevered and are currently writing history, making a statement that should be noticed, and learned from. The people involved with Desportivo de Manica are committed and continually looking to expand their involvement and assistance.

Through this program the University of Johannesburg has recently linked with the Dreamfields Project lead by John Perlman and through Manica UJ and Dreamfields is starting to explore innovative ways of how soccer can be used as a vehicle for social transformation and improving the lives for the children of South Africa, southern Africa and Africa. P

rojects like Desportivo Manica and Dreamfields seem to exhibit the true spirit of football and the true spirit of 2010. Both Dreamfields and Desportivo and UJ relies on individuals who each makes little contributions, sometimes insignificant contributions, but collectively these individuals forms the backbone of these miracles.

And in helping they are discovering a new way of being and living in Africa: Ubunto beyond borders, beyond borders of race, class and countries. 2010- behind the glamour we wait to see the glory: the glory, not of a mere event, but of an African humanity.