A team player

Captain of his national side andan established player in the English Premier League, South African Aaron Mokoena could probably be forgiven for resting on his laurels. However, instead of simply enjoying the lucrative contracts and lavish lifestyle with which professional footballers have long been associated, Mokoena devotes a significant amount of his time to helping to ensure youngsters in his home country get a fair start in life and access to the opportunities that have helped him along his way.

The Aaron Mokoena Foundation was launched in 2008 as a not-for-profit organisation in South Africa and was granted charitable status in the UK in 2009. Having been involved in many charities in his home country, Mokoena had wondered how to best help his countrymen when he reached his fortunate position. "I am what I am today because of South Africans so I wanted to give back to them, but I didn't want to throw money away, so I established my own foundation," he says.

The foundation aims to improve opportunities for young people in South Africa, using football as a medium to positively impact on other areas of their lives. Speaking at the launch of the foundation in his home town of Boipatong, Gauteng province, Mokoena said, "This is where I grew up and I know first-hand how hard it can be for the people here."

The foundation's activities include developing coach training programmes, providing opportunities for children and young people to participate in football and working with � schools and communities to develop the sport.

Mokoena believes football — and sport in general — should be a fundamental part of education for young people, as it can develop important values and attributes. "Football is not just about the game; it's also about discipline, mentoring and sacrificing," says Mokoena. "I want to see young children developing — I hope it can change their lives and make a difference."

It is not only children who benefit from the foundation, as Mokoena says the changes brought about through football affect their families as well.

While Mokoena speaks of the difficulties of growing up in his home town, he found it relatively easy to succeed in football. "I was surrounded by footballers, as football is the number one sport in South Africa, and as there is much talent opportunities are always there."

Overall development

Beginning by kicking a ball around with his brother — "It was just fun to start with; just running around," he says — he moved on to playing for his local and school teams before winning a place on the national side. "I was the youngest ever player to represent South Africa," he says proudly.

Despite such success, Mokoena remains grounded and mindful of his background, for which he credits his mother. "Mum taught me not to forget where I came from," he says. Mokoena played for a while in German teams before moving into the English Premier League in 2005, where he played for Blackburn Rovers for a number of years. He is currently signed to Portsmouth as a centre-back/defensive midfielder.

The upcoming FIFA World Cup is a prime opportunity for the foundation to raise awareness of its aims and activities, according to Mokoena. He has high hopes such a major sporting event will draw positive attention to his charity. "For the Aaron Mokoena Foundation, the World Cup will open doors," he says. "It will raise awareness and help it be as bigas I want it to be."

Events organised to raise the profile of the Foundation include a Captain's Dinner, a Women in Football lunch and a Children and Young People's Art Competition.

A concerted effort

Mokoena sees the country and its economy benefiting enormously provided its African neighbours chip in to help. "It will create jobs and improve the economy for South Africa," he says. "But it's the first World Cup on the African continent and we need African countries to get involved and work with us, as we can't do it by ourselves."

In the same vein, Mokoena is realistic about the work his charity is able to accomplish, although he feels his efforts are not in vain. "I know I can't help them all, but giving back to children in South Africa is my way of saying thanks," he says. "It takes up my time but it's what I'm good at, it's what I love, and I'm enjoying it."

On the spot

- Aaron Mokoena (left playing for Portsmouth) was born on November 25, 1980, in Boipatong, Gauteng province.

- Mokoena was the youngest player ever towin a cap forhis national team.

- Mokoena will win his 100th cap when he plays as captain for his national team in the World Cup.

- Mokoena's nickname is Mbazo, meaning hard tackler or hard worker inthe local language.