THERE’S a lot of things that happen in these days that are enough to make you lose faith in humanity.
Social media has been simultaneously one of mankind’s best and worst inventions.
Good news travels much faster, but so too does the negativity. On Sunday morning the Socceroos were knocked out of the World Cup in heartbreaking fashion after coming agonisingly close to upsetting powerhouse Argentina.
In the dying embers of the match as Australia was pushing hard for an equalizer, the ball fell to the feet of 18-year-old rising star Garang Kuol, a South Sudanese refugee who has turned football in this country on its head since bursting onto the scene last year.
An absolutely sublime first touch off a cross from Craig Goodwin put Kuol one-on-one in the six-yard box with goalkeeper Emi Martinez.
Football fans around Australia collectively held their breath as Kuol directed his shot goal bound. But a stunning save from Martinez denied the Socceroos the fairy-tale finish.
Instead of heading to extra time, Australia was sent packing after equalling its best ever showing on football’s highest stage.
Kuol, largely pegged as the next big thing in Australian football, was forced to turn off the comments on his Instragram account just hours later after copping racial abuse for the spurned opportunity.
But if you thought that was as low as you could get, a group of Gawler locals went some way to restoring that faith a couple of hours later.
The much anticipated Hope Cup charity cricket match took place at Sandy Creek’s Curdnatta Oval later that morning in an example of the difference that can be made when people collectively unite for a greater purpose.
Gawler Police triumphed over the Riverside All-Stars in an entertaining and friendly display of one of the country’s favourite past times.
But more importantly, it was announced that a whopping $40,000 had been raised from the match.
All of the proceeds will go towards the Riverside Salvation Army’s efforts to assist the homeless population of Gawler through projects like the Lockers for Life initiative.
Its also raised the community’s compassion and understanding too, achieving the two goals set out by Riverside’s Major Darren Dwyer and Senior Sergeant Rob Mowday at the onset of the project months ago.
For all the evil that is present in this world, there’s always a light that will never go out.
