Moonstone: How Hollard won the world cup for South Africa

OK, it will only happen in 20 years time, but it had to start somewhere, right?
Picture this scene:

Two delegates to the recent Insurance Conference, X and Y, are on their way back home. Their car contains a substantial number of gift items from sponsors at the conference, including a soccer ball each from Hollard to commemorate the rapidly approaching World Cup in South Africa.

The road between Sun City and the airport contains many scenes of the harsh reality that is Africa. Between the glitter of the gambling Mecca and the buzz of Lanseria airport in Johannesburg lie just too many examples of extreme poverty.

While the rest of the country is planning their schedule around the greatest sporting event in the world, these poor people are focused on survival of different kind from that of the teams competing for the greatest sporting spectacle in the world.

Soccer is not the first sport of choice for either X or Y, but who would turn down a neat soccer ball as a gift?

Who indeed?

As the two delegates discuss the conference, they speculate about the opulence they left behind and the poverty that surrounds them. Suddenly, an idea occurs.

How great would it be to make the miracle that is the World Cup a reality in the lives of one or two people for whom it is so desperately far away?

The first stop is next to a mother and child walking along the road. She carries a bundle of freshly chopped firewood on her head. They are obviously on their way home to prepare a meager meal and provide warmth for the bitter cold.

The little boy stares unbelievingly at the brand new soccer ball in his hands. His mother claps her hands, smiling widely, repeating her thanks, even as they drive away.

The next stop is a community centre which doubles as a crèche during the week. Behind barbed wire, the children are sitting in the dust, playing with whatever meager toys they managed to manufacture out of virtually nothing.

The next ball is tossed over the fence, to the lady in charge who came to the gate very suspiciously when she saw the car approach. Not a word is spoken, just a friendly smile and a wave.

The disbelieve changes to pure joy on the faces of all.

Back on the road, the two men see the staff still standing there, smiling and waving heartily. The children are almost at the furthest end of the playground, chasing the one who is dribbling the ball.

Says Y: “Wouldn’t it be nice to know twenty years from now that the Pele/Ronaldo/Torres who won the World Cup for South Africa was one of these kids?”

Responds X: “Would it not be even better not to know?”