- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: SOCCER/FOOTBALL - Man Utd players help the fight against AIDS
- Date: 27th July 2008
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYER MIKAEL SILVESTRE SAYING: "Through sports, Unicef and United are giving skills and knowledge to fight HIV which is the best way, it's a funny way so for the youngsters, it's bit by bit, you can talk to them about prevention."
- Embargoed: 11th August 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVAAET6PAA0MMGBSM1DN51RU9B13
- Story Text: Manchester United footballers took some time out to help the UNICEF anti-AIDS campaign in the Alexandra Township in Johannesburg on Friday (July 25).
While the team is in South Africa for a pre-season tour, players visited the township that was hit by violence two months ago when Zimbabwean immigrants were attacked.
United's French defender Mikael Silvestre and reserve player Danny Simpson met children in the township and joined in a singalong as part of the initiative.
"Through sports, Unicef and United are giving skills and knowledge to fight HIV which is the best way, it's a funny way so for the youngsters, it's bit by bit, you can talk to them about prevention.
"I wish we can spend more time with them but we've shown them that we came across the world to see them and that was the main thing. Give them some hope and tell them that they have to keep going in this this direction."
Nearly 5.5 million South Africans are living with HIV. Over 240,000 of those are young people under the age of 15, and 1.2 million children have been orphaned as a result of AIDS.
Manchester United will face Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday (July 26) in the final of the Vodacom Challenge at the Loftus stadium in Pretoria. It is United's second trip to South Africa in the annual pre-season tournament. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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