Philips and the ‘Dutch Legends’ donates LED floodlighting system to Refilwe community

Philips and the ‘Dutch Legends’ football team have donated one of the worlds first dedicated solar powered LED floodlighting system (intense beams of light) to the Refilwe community project near Johannesburg, allowing the local community to play and watch football long after dark for the first time ever.

This initiative comes as Philips announced the launch of a new generation of solar LED solution, which has the ability to transform the lives of communities throughout the developing world. The Dutch Legends team is coached by Ruud Gullit and includes former Dutch Internationals such as Aron Winter, Pierre van Hooijdonk, Ronald de Boer and Arthur Numan.  

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for the community, for the soccer players and spectators says Annatjie Cilliers, the Refilwe community project leader. “And it can be used for other night events as well, gatherings, picnics, weddings. It opens up opportunities in the community.”

We are delighted to be involved in this groundbreaking initiative’ says Aron Winter from the Dutch legends team. ‘This will really make a big difference to the quality of peoples lives and bring communities together right across Africa’.

“The development of solar powered LED floodlighting means a potential technology leap for Africa,” says Jeroen Janssen, Philips Lightings CEO in Southern Africa.  “I am extremely proud by this application of our expertise in LED lighting and sports lighting in particular, and our ability to bring the fun and enjoyment of sports to communities where a lack of electricity limits participation.”

To officially open the new solar lighting the Dutch legends team played a team of local youngsters at the Refilwe community project on the 30 November 2009.