About three years ago, Gasant Abarder took on a role that would consume his days during the football season as he plotted to establish football at a primary school where girls had never played in its 75-year existence.
A group of history makers have carved a legacy for others to follow, but taught him so much about life and courage along the way.
On Friday afternoon, when Golden Grove Primary School in Rondebosch usually play their school matches, I was on my way when a parent sent a video on the parents' chat group that the captain and vice-captain were running the warm-up, even before the coaches had arrived. It further confirmed that I had made the right call to step down as coach last week my work here was done.
But dial back to 2022, when during a school Annual General Meeting, my wife Laylaa stood up and asked why there wasn't girls' soccer at the school. Other primary schools were already well into the sport and excelling, even embarking on international tours.
The principal, Dawn Petersen, the school governing body and a newly appointed sports head, Shane Lewis, were true to their word. Two under-13 girls' teams, an A and B team, would be established the following year, starting with a few friendly matches. A coach was needed, and because the Abarders had agitated, yours truly was entrusted with the job.