CASEY SCORES A SWEDE DEAL

THERE is still so much good in the world and the story of young Casey Goliath from Kensington is a testament to this. 

On 16 April, the Daily Voice published a story about the 12-year-old who was selected to join LifeZone Sport International’s U14 girls soccer team on their tour of Sweden from 20 June to 7 July. 

However, Casey needed to raise R28 000 excluding travel insurance, visa costs and transport fees by 30 April to realise this dream.

Despite tireless efforts by the family to raise the funds, a shortfall remained. 

The family then also fell victim to a scam when an allegedly skelme reverend reached out to Casey’s mother, Lezaan, claiming he’d help the girl raise the funds. 

But he apparently pocketed the money made for the trip.

In the background, Independent Media Editor-in-Chief Adri Senekal de Wet read the article and was touched. 

She recalls: “What an achievement, I thought… 

“I wanted to help. I called the editor the next day and said: “Ek gaan ‘n sponsor kry!” 

“After speaking to her ma, Lezaan, for days (even while I was in the hospital), I made a call to a person last week (on the day Casey needed her visa), Zunaid Moti - a businessman that our Chairman, Dr. Iqbal Survé, introduced me to some time ago. 

“I told him the story and asked, asseblief Meneer, kan jy help om die kind se droom waar te maak? He immediately said JA, and that's how Casey's dream came true.  

“Casey, I am very proud of you! Go and make us proud. Thank you Daily Voice for publishing your article, and thank you Zunaid for your helping hand.”

Zunaid Moti went above and beyond and sponsored R40 000 for the trip. 

Moti says: “This is more than a donation. It’s an investment in a young person’s dreams, potential, and future. Casey embodies the kind of resilience, determination, and heart that MotiMoves aims to nurture -not just in business, but in every walk of life. 

“She may not be an entrepreneur in the traditional sense, but she is marketing her talent, and her story to the world, and that is the true spirit of entrepreneurship.”

MotiMoves, founded by Zunaid in 2023, is a mentorship and empowerment initiative to help individuals of all ages and backgrounds recognise and realise their potential. 

Moti adds: “This is the type of story that inspires us all… I’m honoured to be part of her journey.”

Case and her mom Lezaan couldn’t be more grateful for the sponsorship and of her mother’s efforts to get her to Sweden next month, Casey says: “After everything that happened with the scamming, I started to think it might not happen but my mom told me to have faith and trust in God. 

“She promised me she would make it possible and she did. I’m so grateful to her. As a single parent, she worked so hard to make this dream come true. She’s my biggest support system and my hero. Mom, I’m going to make you proud.”