THEY have had to make do with a handful of strips between 1700 youngsters. But soon, young footballers in one of Africa's poorest countries will be fully kitted out – thanks to an Edinburgh appeal which has resulted in around 1000 strips being collected across the city.
The kits will soon be sent to Malawi,where a special project is giving children a chance to play and learn together.
The community initiative allows youngsters to develop their football, social and life skills, and offers support and education to those affected by HIV and Aids, tuberculosis and malaria.
The campaign was started earlier this year by former Edinburgh marketing manager Bob Stewart, who visited the country and saw first-hand the lack of resources.
The city council backed the campaign and posters were put up in all Edinburgh Leisure facilities urging users to hand in team strips and replica shirts.
Local football clubs including Royston Rangers Boys Club, Hutchison Vale and a youth team from Haddington, were among those to donate strips.
The city's sport and leisure facilities donated around 100 Scottish athletics running shorts and vests.
Hibs donated the first team's old training kit and ex-stock from the shop, while Celtic also provided jerseys. In all, 1000 football tops, 750 pairs of shorts and 400 pairs of socks have been collected in Edinburgh, as well as footballs, trainers, cones, bibs, boots and kitbags.
City sports leader Deidre Brock said: "The appeal has been a great success, with donations coming from individuals and organisations from all over the city.
"The kits will not only put a smile on the faces of lots
of young people, but they will be used in health promotion as part of the Play Soccer Malawi campaign, which is helping to save lives."
Dr Stewart, 54, first visited Malawi last year after Penicuik High School – where his wife Mary is principal guidance teacher – struck up a partnership with a school in the village of Thyolo.
The Play Soccer Malawi campaign for youngsters aged five to 14 is run by the country's football association, but despite huge demand, it struggles for funding.
Dr Stewart said: "I never thought we would get such a response – it's incredible. I have e-mailed the guys in Malawi and they can't believe it.
"When I went to Malawi, I couldn't believe the noise level when I saw the kids – but they had only seven strips between them.
"I felt we had to do something, so I wrote to various groups, and I was delighted when the council agreed to take this up."
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