The Football for Hope Festival 2010 celebrates the power of football for social change. 32 teams of young people from disadvantaged communities around the world will come to Johannesburg, South Africa for a festival of education, culture and football.

The boys and girls are members of organisations which tackle social issues using football – from homelessness in the UK andlandmines in Cambodia, to HIV/Aids education in South Africa and integration of refugees in Australia.

This official event of the 2010 FIFA World Cup SouthAfrica™ is organised by FIFA, streetfootballworld,the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa and the City of Johannesburg.

My name is Abbey and I was born in Masaka which is 130 km south of Kampala. I have two sisters and five brothers. I now live in Rubaga in Kampala and I go to school at St Mary’s Senior Secondary School, Kitende where I am pursuing my Advanced level studies.

I like to socialise and when not studying at school, or not playing football, I like meeting people and making new friends and hanging out and having fun.

My favourite foods are Chicken and Chips. I like to watch Arsenal and FC Barcelona play because I like their style of playing entertaining football. But Fernando Torres is my favourite player.

I joined The Kids League activities in 2007 and the following year I was recruited to play in the team that toured Europe. It was a wonderful experience to go on a plane and see so many things that we don’t have in Uganda. I enjoyed playing against teams from all over the world and making new friends.

I am so grateful to Trevor and Coach Eddie for the work they are doing in helping the children of Uganda.

Playing football with TKL has helped me get scholarships to join good schools and complete my education. The team spirit in the TKL is wonderful and we are all looking forward to travel to South Africa and meet so many people, who like us play football with a smile on our faces.