10bet’s ongoing drive of contributing to the growth and development
of community sport continued on Thursday, 15 February 2024, when the leading
international sports betting company made a donation of football equipment to Vosloorus
based club, Real Vultures F.C.
Co-founded in 2014 by childhood friends, Judas Baloyi, Kgotso Tshehesi, Kanelo Kolobe and
Thapelo Mokoena in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg; Real Vultures is a community football
club that caters for various age groups that compete in the Ekurhuleni Regional League.
Following the passing of co-founder, Kgotso Tshehisi’s father, who owned a football club
called City Stars, Tshehisi decided to continue his father’s legacy by collaborating with like-
minded football enthusiasts, which saw the formation of Real Vultures.
“All four of our co-founders were part of the then City Stars and when the owner and coach
passed away, amajita (sic) felt the need to follow in the footsteps of their late coach and not
give up hope,” said Real Vultures team manager and assistant coach, Thulane Koape.
Ten years into the game, Real Vultures currently boasts five (5) teams that play in five (5)
different divisions of the league. With most of their members still unemployed, the team is
self-funded and relies heavily on member contributions, who mostly are recipients of the
government’s monthly R350 Social Relief Grant.
“Our community is in dire need of recreational activities that can at least offer a glimmer of
hope to a lot of young people who are at risk of falling through the cracks, and I’m glad to
say that we offer that here at Real Vultures. We try by all means to instill discipline and
valuable life skills through idiski (sic), despite our ongoing challenges of lack of funding and
no adequate resources,” added Koape.
Gear-Up Ikasi is a 10bet initiative by the leading sports betting company’s CSR division and
is solely designed to help sports clubs across Gauteng communities with essential playing
and training equipment.
Since its launch in November 2023, the Gear-Up Ikasi initiative has to date benefited two
community football clubs in Soweto and Vosloorus with much-needed kit and equipment and
continues to do so as part of 10bet’s objective of aiding community sport development.
Present at the handing over of the equipment which included a brand-new home-and-away
football kit, were jubilant Real Vultures players, the coaching and management staff, as well
as SAFA Ekurhuleni region president, Mr Job Mchunu.
Thanking 10bet on the donation, head coach, Kanelo Kolobe said the equipment will go a
long way in the club’s efforts of using football as a diversion from the social ills faced in the
community.
“As a club, we would like to express our gratitude to 10bet for this donation. The club has
been in existence since 2014 and plays a key role in creating a diversion from some of the
ongoing challenges faced in the community. For our players to play in such a quality kit and
equipment is an added incentive and we want to thank 10bet for this motivating gesture,”
concluded Kolobe.
Also present at the handover was 10bet Brand Ambassador, Doctor Khumalo who lauded
10bet’s ongoing effort of community sport development.
“It is encouraging to see what 10bet is doing in our communities. In addition to getting the
nation to rally behind Bafana Bafana, it is even more exciting to see the brand here in the
heart of the community where the passion for football is at its highest,” said Khumalo.
The 10bet Gear-Up Ikasi campaign continues over the next eight (8) months, with amateur
football and netball teams in Gauteng encouraged to participate by submitting their
motivations through the official 10bet Facebook page.
For more information about the initiative and how to participate, please visit
www.blog.10bet.co.za
