Prince and the prelate swop notes

01 December 2015 - 02:15 By Gabi Mbele

Prince Harry told young mentors at the Grassroot Football Centre of Hope in Khayelitsha yesterday he would want his children to play rugby rather than soccer. The British royal, who is on the Cape Town leg of a four-day trip to South Africa, visited the non-profit organisation that uses soccer to help prevent the spread of HIV-Aids.Accompanied by Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille and British High Commissioner to South Africa Judith Macgregor, his first order at the centre was meeting soccer and skills mentors between the ages of 21 and 27."It is such a good thing seeing young people from the community talking to younger children about their challenges and being pulled up through soccer."If I came and started teaching here I don't think they would listen to me because they can't relate to me."Soccer is a big sport globally, even younger kids are obsessed with soccer. I would encourage my children to play rugby - soccer is easier," he laughed.Earlier in the day, Prince Harry met Archbishop Desmond Tutu to present him with his Order of the Companions of Honour at the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation at the Waterfront.Tutu praised Harry for his extensive charity work in Africa."I am very touched by your commitment to Lesotho."I taught at the university there and became Bishop of Lesotho. It has always had a very soft spot in our hearts. It's wonderful that you are helping. Thank you very much."The prince replied: "You will have to visit one of our projects."The prince leaves for Durban tomorrow, to meet the Surfers Not Street Kids organisation, before heading to the Kruger National Park and finally Johannesburg, where he will visit Nelson Mandela's widow, Graça Machel...

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