Kicking it with 700 soccer boots

In partnership with Boots for Africa, Bolloré Logistics South Africa recently handed over 700 pairs of second-hand boots to 34 schools and soccer academies in Greenfields, Ekurhuleni.

Bolloré Logistics sponsored the transport and logistics requirements of the Boots for Africa initiative and the event was facilitated by soccer star Teboho Mokoena and his foundation, the Teboho Mokoena Sports and Development Foundation, along with Gavin Hendry and his organisation, Ready to Send.

Boots for Africa is the brainchild of Richard Tims, chairman of English Premier League club, Sheffield FC. The initiative started in 2009, to coincide with the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, and aims to support grassroots sports development on the African continent. Its success has seen the initiative grow globally, where it is now known as Boots for Roots.

“This is another expression of our commitment to our economy and local community development. Sport has a multiplier effect and, much like travel and logistics, it feeds into and off many other industries. We see our involvement here as a worthwhile investment in the South African economy,” says Mark Thompson, Gauteng regional director at Bolloré Logistics.

Bolloré Logistics stored the shipment of the boots at the Durban port and facilitated all the customs logistics. It then transported the boots to Johannesburg, where they were stored in a warehouse until the handover.

Over and above the 700 pairs of second-hand soccer boots, 115 pairs of rugby boots and 70 pairs of running shoes will be donated to schools and academies over the next few weeks. This is the third shipment that Boots for Africa has received to date.