South Africa: Lucas Radebe

Bulgaria: Krassimir Balakov | South Africa: Lucas Radebe | Switzerland: Kubilay Türkyilmaz | Belarus: Alexandr Hleb | The Netherlands: Ruud van Nistelrooy | Finland: Jari Litmanen

Lucas Radebe, captain of the South African national team - "Bafana Bafana", and English premiership club Leeds United has for six years been one of the most committed and popular of the FIFA/SOS Ambassadors. Photo: SOS Archives On officially being made an ambassador in 1998, Radebe expressed his hope: "I hope that through my contribution to this dynamic partnership which unites sports and social responsibility for children, our game and the activities involved will continue to fill a great many young people with hope and joy, and will promote their talent." Radebe, who received the prestigious "FIFA Fair Play Award" in 2001 and who donated the prize money as well as 3,000 books collected by Leeds United to SOS Children's Villages South Africa at a "Fundraising Breakfast" in Johannesburg, makes regular visits to the South African SOS Children's Villages. The small inhabitants of the villages are among his most loyal and enthusiastic fans. Whether in Pietermaritzburg, Ennerdale, Memelodi or Capetown, personal football instruction from Lucas Radebe count among the real highlights for the children and youths. Photo: SOS Archives Professional football has always attached great importance to the development of juniors for it is these youngsters that represent the future of our sport and of the whole world. I share these objectives and those of SOS Children's Villages to raise children's standards and help them realise their ambitions, and look forward to taking a very active role", is how Radebe describes his reasons for devoting himself to the promotion and encouragement of disadvantaged children and for sticking up for their needs and rights. Lucas Radebe himself knows the power of self-belief and how essential it is to be reinforced in this belief: "The most important decision is to go out there and touch their lives. You have to tell them that you were just like them and that they can make the most of the potential God has given them in order to live a good life. I'd like them to believe that they can make it. That is the future of our country - and they have a great future."