Kaizer Chiefs veteran Bernard Parker has recalled the hardships of growing up in abject poverty after being involved with Vodacom's CSI initiative on Monday.
Chiefs and Orlando Pirates may be fierce rivals in the Premier Soccer League but they were united as one this week to feed the underprivileged as the packed food parcels at the Soweto Cricket Oval.
Scroll through the gallery above to see images of the incredible event
With families reeling within the coronavirus pandemic as we head into the peak of winter, the telecommunications giant donated R5000 for every goal scored by Amakhosi and the Buccaneers in the 2020/21 DStv Premiership campaign.
A grand total of R335 000 was raised which amounted to 850 parcels for families in need which brought up a sense of reflection for Parker - who's been a professional footballer since 2004.
"I grew up in a shack with a single mom. I remember the day my mother was retrenched and we had nothing. I had to make pap for the whole week, which we ate dry – no sugar and no milk," he said.
"We did that for two weeks – breakfast, lunch and supper every day. And we only had water to drink. I know how much this food will mean to a family.
"When I think back on what we went through, I understand exactly what these families are going through."