As the 2010 World Cup kicks off in South Africa, the Dutch national football team has opened a football pitch in Johannesburg. Not just any old pitch, the deprived area of Hillbrow is now home to a brand new "Cruyff Court". And Dutch football legend Johan Cruyff attended the opening in person.

A crowd of South African kids are blowing loudly on vuvuzela horns. They chant the names of Van Persie and Kuijt, but freely admit they have no idea who Johan Cruyff is. Almost the entire Dutch selection has turned up in Hillbrow, which is only around ten minutes drive from the complex where they are training for the World Cup. They are surrounded by kids on a playing field of artificial turf with orange goals at either end.

The Cruyff Court was partially financed by a 100,000 euro donation from the players. It is designed to be a safe place for local kids to play. The township of Hillbrow is notorious as a hotbed of crime, violence and drug problems and Johannesburg is trying to breathe new life into the neighbourhood. The football pitch is part of this initiative. Apart from anything else, it will keep the youth off the streets.

Leading the world
“You hear people saying this is the worst neighbourhood there is,” says football legend Johan Cruyff. “Now they have something to aim for. Kids can play here together, which is good for integration. They have a pitch where they can invite teams from other districts to play. This is the fourth pitch that the Dutch national selection has paid for. In that respect, the Netherlands leads the world.”

The Cruyff Court is located between high-rise blocks where many families live in cramped and overcrowded flats. “We usually just play out on the streets,” says one boy. “But now we have somewhere better to go.” The pitch has also been equipped with basic floodlights, something Dutch national coach Bert van Marwijk insisted on. He wanted to make sure that it is safe for kids to play there in the evening.

Youth project
The Hillbrow youth project is a joint venture involving the Dutch national football association KNVB, the Dutch embassy and the Cruyff Foundation. It goes much further than just a single football pitch for children. Former South African premier league players are being trained to coach the youngsters. This not only gives the children the chance of a better life, but also offers prospects to the footballers themselves, who often end up jobless once their sporting careers come to an end.

Dutch player Dirk Kuijt stands at the edge of the pitch. “It’s a wonderful experience to be able to give something back to the children and the people of South Africa, who often have to do without so much in their childhood,” he says. “When you play with these kids and you see how much fun they’re having, it really makes you feel happy to be alive.”