Phuti Lekoloane, South Africa’s first (and only) openly gay male professional soccer player, has launched a desperately-needed new initiative to tackle homophobia in football. Lekoloane, 28 – who has been the victim of anti-gay bigotry throughout his career – has created a foundation that will be organising the first LGBTI Legacy Games at the Mayibuye Sports Ground in Midrand.

The event will take place over four days between 21 and 29 March 2020 and will see men’s and women’s teams – consisting of LGBTIQ+ and allied players – competing in 18 matches. The first prize is R18,000.

“The event is all about ensuring that we bring awareness about the existence of LGBTIQ football athletes and fans,” Lekoloane told MambaOnline. “I would also like to ensure that the community at large understands, appreciates and accepts LGBTIQ people and to minimise the victimisation of gays and lesbians.”

Lekoloane says that the idea for the tournament stemmed from “my experiences as an openly gay footballer in the male-dominated field. The masculinity of men and their egos made it a little difficult for me to fit in.” Read more via Mamba