A 22-year-old soccer star from Clarke Estate’s flats in Elsies River has been given a unique opportunity to study Business Management while playing football at the University of Arkansas in the USA.
Euwin Stevens has been playing football “for as long as he can walk”, and the centreback has represented clubs from all over Cape Town.
However, while the tuition is free, the young man must raise R80 000 for flights and to assist with his living expenses when he gets there.
Euwin says growing up in Clarke Estate, where drugs and gangs “are basically the only options for youth”, made him determined to succeed in life.
It pushed him to become an excellent soccer player, attracting the attention of scouts for clubs like Hellenic and ASD Cape Town.
Currently playing for Kuils River AFC, Euwin hopes to have raised all his money before he departs on 1 August.
Euwin lives with his mom, Riehette, and sister Teshone, 20.
HEADED FOR USA: Soccer star Euwin Stevens will study abroad
The mom of three says she is proud of all her kids, but especially Euwin.
“Euwin was a premature baby and doctors at the time said he would not survive,” she says.
“He used those legs before anything else and has been committed to soccer since he was four and first played for a club here in the area. When he was given this opportunity to apply for this scholarship, we said go for it and we will do everything we can to raise the money for him to go.”
Local soccer scout, David Syce, helped Euwin with the application, and within a few weeks he received a letter of acceptance.
Pictures by Jack Lestrade
“I could not believe it, but I am very excited. I will get to study at the university for two years and I will be able to continue playing soccer,” says Euwin.
“I have opted to study business management and I will come back to South Africa and give back to my community. This is my home and I will teach our children there is so much more to life than the poverty we see every day.”
If you would like to assist, please contact Euwin on
072 347 3480.
saafia.february@inl.co.za