Pretoria - UK police brought with them more than just their expertise when they came to South Africa to help with the policing of the FIFA World Cup.
The delegation also saw their visit to the country as an opportunity to add value to the lives of South African children.
With that mission in mind, officers went to well-known English football clubs - Stoke City and Everton - and secured soccer kits from the clubs for two deserving soccer teams in Mamelodi.
On Monday, the English police officers visited Mamelodi and handed over the much-needed soccer kits to children from the Ramahlale Primary School and the Happy Hearts Soccer Team - a girl's soccer team.
Lerato Riba, a member of the Happy Hearts Soccer Team, beamed as she put on the brand new soccer jersey.
"It means a lot to be given this kit. I really appreciate it, especially because we are girls. It's nice that someone thought about us for a change and not just the boys," she said.
Sinah Phahlane of Ramahlale Primary thanked the British police officers on behalf of her school.
"We are thankful for your donation. Continue to make other children happy, particularly those who went through a lot during childhood. Remember that the hand that gives is the hand that receives. God bless and good luck for your team's next game," the Grade 7 pupil said.
Tony Conniford, an Assistant Director with the UK police, said meeting the children of Mamelodi and handing over the soccer kits to them was an emotional experience.
"When we found out we were coming to South Africa for the World Cup we decided to bring something along with us to make the memories more special and to help areas such as this one," he said.
Conniford added that the reason he had become a policeman was to work with the community and on Monday he had the opportunity to achieve that goal.
"This isn't about policing or FIFA. This is just about a group of guys from England who said that while we're in South Africa, we want to do something to help. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the other side of things that we forget the human element," he said.
Conniford described the first World Cup on African soil as "excellent" saying people who had been waiting for South Africa to fail in hosting the tournament had been left disappointed.
"It has been a successful tournament so far. I just wish I could I say the same for the English team. Hopefully Wayne Rooney will get a hat-trick," Conniford said.
He joked that the police officers were not responsible for the way the English team - who have drawn both their matches - had played in the tournament so far.
Lieutenant General Arnold Lamoer of the SAPS promised his British counterparts that the English soccer league would not be the same in the next five to 10 years.
"These children will be the next Steven Pienaars and Aaron Mokoenas playing in the English league. I challenge these children to make us proud - to go to the English league and show them the skills from Mamelodi," the general added.
Lamoer said the soccer kits would go a long way in motivating the youngsters to give off their best.
