LUCAS "Rhoo" Radebe, former Bafana Bafana and Leeds United captain, has been appointed Fifa's Football for Hope ambassador.

LUCAS "Rhoo" Radebe, former Bafana Bafana and Leeds United captain, has been appointed Fifa's Football for Hope ambassador.

The announcement was made at the Football for Hope Forum workshop by Fifa president Sepp Blatter, who also congratulated Radebe for his huge role in the development of the game.

Football for Hope, led by Fifa and streetfootballworld.com, is a movement using the power of the beautiful game for social development. It was established in 2005 and supports more than 70 projects in 45 countries.

Fifa is building 20 Football for Hope centres for 2010, with the first one in Khaye-litsha, Cape Town. Five centres will be built in South Africa and the rest across the continent. They are aimed at addressing social challenges in disadvantaged areas.

Radebe said: "I appreciate this appointment by Fifa to serve on this project. As a youngster from Soweto, our hope has always been football."

In the final week of the 2010 World Cup final, 32 teams from various countries will take part in the Football for Hope Festival 2010 in Alexandra. Moses Selolo, Alexandra Football Association president, said Alex residents are over the moon.