Amakhosi striker Shaun Bartlett in conjunction with a medical aid company which he endorses arranged on Thursday afternoon to take a number of his teammates, to hand out gifts and bring some festive cheer to the children’s ward at the Chris Baragwanath Hospital located at the entrance of Soweto.

Accompanying Bartlett were teammates Jimmy Tau, Fabian McCarthy, Emille Baron, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Mokete Tsotetsi, Mandla Masango as well as coach Muhsin Ertugral.

The Chiefs contingent were greeted by cheers, applause and smiling faces upon entering the ward on Thursday afternoon and passed on gifts as well as hosted a Christmas party for the kids.

Giving back

A joyful looking Bartlett was only happy to dish out presents and bring some happiness to the kids who were at the hospital and said to kaizerchiefs.com, “it was nice of the other guys to come with me to the hospital and visit the kids. We sometimes forget that there are people who are in need not just of material things but also of someone showing them kindness. Giving back to the community is what it is all about and I am glad that in our way we were able to bring some happiness to these kids”.

Tshabalala hit

With his flowing dread locks and happy go lucky demeanor Siphiwe Tshabalala was a hit amongst the kids who were kept entertained by the midfielder, who seemed to thoroughly enjoy his afternoon out. Tshabalala said afterwards “I remember when I was a kid there were times when I also felt like the world was a terrible place and just by someone extending kindness and love to me especially at this time of the year - it made a major difference in my small little world.

Many of the kids we met on Thursday might not be in the fortunate position of having what we have, and affording them the opportunity to smile is what the visit was all about and hopefully they will be encouraged by our small gesture of kindness”.