Former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Esrom Nyandoro has launched a heartfelt public appeal to support vulnerable children across Africa, revealing that he is auctioning off his most prized football memorabilia to fund the initiative.
The former Zimbabwe international, who recently founded the Esrom Nyandoro Foundation, shared a heartfelt account of his journey from the dusty streets of Bulawayo to a successful 21-year association with Sundowns. Growing up in a family of eight sharing just two rooms, Nyandoro recalls how difficult life was.
“I grew up in deep poverty. Life was hard, resources were few, and opportunities were almost non-existent,” Nyandoro wrote on social media. “I played football in dusty streets, often barefoot. I never owned a pair of soccer boots. All I had was a dream.”
That dream eventually led him to the 2004 AFCON, where he scored a long-range thunderbolt against Cameroon, a strike voted the Goal of the Tournament. His lengthy stint at the Brazilians has seen him transition from a dominant midfield general to a scout and now a coach within the club’s ranks.
ESROM NYANDORO ON HOW HE INTENDS TO HELP THE UNDERPRIVILEGED
Despite his success and the ability to provide for his four sons, ‘Yellowman’, as he was affectionately known, says he cannot ignore the plight of children facing the same hardships he once did. As the festive season approaches, he highlighted the ‘January fear’ that many families face regarding school fees.
“There is a child out there right now who cannot fully celebrate Christmas because they are worried about what will happen when January comes. Will they go back to school, or will school fees stop their dream?”
Nyandoro’s Foundation has been officially registered to tackle these barriers head-on. The organisation focuses on direct financial aid for underprivileged students. He intends to use sport as a vehicle for discipline and mentorship across Africa.
The 45-year-old has selling his sentimental jerseys to kickstart the foundation’s funding. This includes his framed AFCON jerseys and several signed kits from former teammates.
“For the past five years, I have been doing this work alone, quietly helping where I can,” Nyandoro admitted. “But I have reached a point where I cannot break through the ceiling alone. Your contribution, no matter how small, can change a child’s future.”
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