Category: Coach’s Story 23 posts found


“I discovered my true self”: Coach Cleo’s Story

October 23, 2018

It’s universal: Adolescence can be a tricky time, regardless of where you live. In many parts of the world, youth are disproportionately impacted by increased… Read More

Meet Coach Florence Tembo: “Life Has Not Been an Easy Journey”

August 29, 2018

Florence Tembo is a dedicated 20 year-old business lady in Lusaka, Zambia. Like other Grassroot Soccer Coaches she’s a self-motivated young… Read More

Mojalefa’s Story: “I Am Grassroot Soccer”

February 22, 2018

Mojalefa Murubane is a new Programme Facilitator for the GRS Community Responses programme. He worked as a SKILLZ Coach in Alexandra from 2015-2017. Here is… Read More

Coach Tacit’s Story: “I Aspired to Become a Change Agent”

September 27, 2017

Tacit Radebe is the Programs Coordinator for Grassroot Soccer in Alexandra, South Africa. After questioning his purpose in life, he became a GRS Coach and… Read More

Coach Tracey’s Story: “Grassroot Soccer Has Changed My Life”

August 15, 2017

Tracey Motaung is a GRS Coach in Gauteng, South Africa, who was recently trained in December 2016. While she has faced many challenges and difficulties in her… Read More

Dreams Have No Gender

April 10, 2017

Grassroot Soccer Coach Zeze’s story explores how gender norms and stereotypes in a typically gendered sport such as soccer can be harmful to girls, and… Read More

Success Story: DREAMS, A Life Changing Opportunity

February 23, 2017

The DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored and Safe) Initiative is an ambitious $385 million partnership to reduce HIV infection among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in HIV… Read More

Creating Change Through Vital Conversations on Drug and Alcohol Abuse

February 17, 2017

We asked Coach Constance, in Zambia,  “What’s the most significant challenge you’ve recently faced in delivering GRS programming in the community?”. Below is her response. Read More

A Role Model for HIV+ Youth – Meet Coach Marilyn

November 27, 2016

Marilyn, age 26, is a Grassroot Soccer (GRS) Coach in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Marilyn is part of a unique GRS programme called “SKILLZ+”, which… Read More

“We Need to Cheer Our Home Team Versus HIV and AIDS”

March 24, 2014

Editor’s Note: We first published this story in March, 2011. Since then, Coach Opo has remained with VAP, and is now the organization’s Monitoring &… Read More