BIG DREAMS AND THE BOSTON RED SOX

The 2007 World Champion Boston Red Sox sent us 7 baseballs. Each have Jackie Robinson's Number 42 imprinted on them. We gave them to the 7 children who wrote the most compelling reports on "My Biggest Dream".

Here are some of their dreams:

My name is Masixole, Jack is my surname. Ian 14 years old. I was born in Elliot in Eastern Cape (Rural areas). But now I live in Cape Town with my mother, father, brother, and small sister and I play baseball for Philippi Angels Baseball Club.

My dream in baseball is to be recognised in the world as a best shortstop player that come from South Africa even though I come from a poor family there is nothing and I mean nothing can stop me from dreaming big but I have nothing.

Although I have nothin" I have pride with every that I have or get.

The field that we practice in is not right. It is full or stones, full of water in winter and the cows come an eat the grass in cold season so we don't have a good field and that is not all. Our uniforms are not enough for the whole team and when we have to play a league or challenge the other teams, we have to go to their field because they say that they can't play in our field, the ball may bounce by the stone and hit the sore. Coach Ian told us that in order for us to have a right field we must work harder with him. And I work hard because I want to be on Western Province. That is my dream also.

My name is Sithembiso and my surname is Fuma. I am 14 years old. I live in Acacia Park, Philippi and my favorite sport is baseball. I am a baseball player and I am a outfielder. I use left hand to throw the ball and I use right hand to catch the ball. I play for Philippi Angels baseball club. I started to play for Philippi Angels on this year. I was think that I was going to make myself for fun. I doesn't know that when you are a baseball player you have to concerntrate and learn things and work very hard for your team and for your self when you want to go with higher levels. When I play a baseball I scared of when I drop a catch my coach with shouted me but I also tell myself that if I'm fast as I can maybe I will not be shouted.

My biggest dream is I want to be a proffesional baseball player and I want to secced at Western Province Trials. I want to teach people to play baseball and teach them the things that I learn from my coach when I have my own team. I want to be a famous person and I want my parents to see me on television or with newspapers when I'm playing a baseball. I want to make my parents to be happy about me and be proud about me because they didn't force me to choose the sport that I must play is my decision to choose the sport that I like in my future.

My name is Nicholas. My surname is Mafanya. My friends and my coach call me Nic. I'm 16 years old. I stay in Philippi East Acacia Park. I play baseball for Philippi Angels. I starting playing baseball last year 2006. I Play baseball because its fun and exciting and keeps me out of the streets for example keeps me from smoking, drinking beer or being a gangster.

When I'm not at baseball practice I would be playing any other sports at the park with my friends the whole day. Hear at our baseball club we don't yet have a field to practice or play our matches now we are practising on a field filled with rocks, stones, papers, and plastic dumped by people who live in our area and opposite our area. But luckily the Government of baseball promised us a baseball field.

Our team is growing bigger and bigger we have two teams of under sixteen, Last year we came second in the baseball league and our under twelves came first in the league. This year I think the whole of Philippi Angels will win this league. I wish one day i would play for the american yankees baseball club. I would like to be seen on tv and be famouse. Maybe one day I will have my own baseball club and coach my own team. But to overcome all my wishes I will have to work hard and discipline to be thebest in the world.

My name is Mansurul-Haq Peters. I am 16 years old. I play baseball for Philippi Angels the reason for this is because I enjoy baseball very much and it keeps me off drugs and gangsterism. I am well known to my coach and players. We play and make jokes but when it comes to baseball we are always serious. When we all are not practicing baseball then we are playing different other sports in the park. My nickname to my players and coach is Gakkie. I started to play baseball last year and we ended up 2nd in the league our under 12 team went on to win the league.

This year we are playing under 16 I know it will be tough but we know that we will do our best because last season we were playing our games as underdogs but this season all the other teams will have respect for us.

My biggest dream is to become a profession baseball player and play for South Africa one day. I would also like to play for one of the top teams in America. I think that myself and my teamates will be very good baseball players because this year we are being helped by a very good coach. His name is coach Ian and he is a very good baseball player and coach and if we want him to help us we must respect and listen to him and be disciplined. He shows us a lot of new baseball moves that we can learn when we play this year. This is why I know I will become a very good baseball player. I would like to thank coach Gabada and Coach Ian for granting me and my teamates the opportunity to become one of the best players in the world.

My name is Abongile Dyantyi I am 14 years old and doing Grade 9 at Cornflower Primary School. I live in Philippi East at number 15 Sage Street in Acacia Park.

I am the first born child in a family of three children. My two young sibblings are at the age of 12 years and the youngest is 3 months old. My sister is doing Grade 7 at the same school as I am. We stay with my aunt and uncle at our house.

I started playing baseball in the year 2006 for Philippi Angels. The reason why I choose such a sport is because I love baseball cause it fills up my spare time and that keeps me away from getting involve in substance abuse e.g drugs and alcohol.

Baseball helps me to stay focus on possitive things in life such as school and it address my needs holistically. My biggest dream is to be a profesional baseball player and go play in America for the best teams. With baseball as the foundation I see myself reaching that dream.

Who are you?

My name is Lukhanyo and my surname is Nopole. I was born in 1992/12/28 and I play baseball I play for Philippi Angels baseball club and baseball is one of my hobby and I love baseball

What is your dream?

My dream is to become the best baseball player and baseball is the only sport that I love and the only person that can make my dream come true, it is only me if I put more effort and be serrious of what I'm doing and follow the code of behavior my dream could come true.

My name is Andiphile, surname Magengenene I'm 15 years old I'm born in 1992-27-12 in Transkai now Im in Grade 8 in School Im playing soccer girls. I started a baseball because I want to be a famous player and I want to visit America to see how American people they play baseball Im a person who likes to play sports When Im watching baseball movies in the tv I have some feelings and interresented all the time Im thinking about baseball and I want to be a best out field.

I am a 15 years old female who has dreams, dreams that need to be fullfilled.

Please E-mail Ian Edelstein, Philippi Angels Township Baseball Academy Executive Director, should you have any inquiries or wish to confirm a donation.

This project addresses delinquency, drug abuse and sexual behaviour that can lead to HIV infection by involving the parents and empowering the youth to make responsible life choices.

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