After learning that, Emile Baron (a former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper) who had previously played for Lillestrm SK, was struggling to make ends meet and relying on handouts to feed his family, football fans in Norway raised almost two million rands (R). Baron played for Lillestrm SK.
The website of the Norwegian television channel TV2 featured two reports that informed viewers about his challenges. These reports captured the attention of supporters located within Norway.
Following the family of four’s eviction from a house with just one bedroom, a portion of the money has already been transferred to Baron, and preparations are being made for alternative living quarters for them.
The first report on his life, which was broadcast on TV2 on March 18, depicted his life and demonstrated that there was not much of him left.
The former shot-stopper for Wits University owned nothing more than a bag of clothing and ventured on trips to gather empty bottles. At the end of the day, he could have enough money to buy a loaf of bread thanks to the friends and acquaintances he would occasionally run into who would hand him some cash.
He explained that he needed to put his pride aside for the sake of his family, and he counted himself fortunate to have his wife there with him at the time.
The subsequent TV2 report showed that he and his loved ones had been expelled from the tiny home they had been staying in, which caused fans in Norway to start a fundraising campaign. Baron and his loved ones had been living in the house when it was discovered that they had been evicted.
Lillestrm and Kanari-Fansen recruited the services of Norwegian former PSL CEO Kjetil Siem and the league’s previous competitions manager Kabelo “KB” Bosilong in order to figure out how the funds could be paid out to Baron in an accountable way and to arrange suitable housing for him and his family.
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Broken leg and suicide attempt
He fell on hard times after he broke his leg playing for Wits in a Premiership match against Orlando Pirates in 2013. As a result of this setback, Baron attempted suicide four times, the most recent attempt taking place in November 2022.
The custodian was in Lillestrm for close to five years before moving back to South Africa and signing with Kaizer Chiefs, the dominant team in Soweto, where he played from 2004 until 2009. After that, he went on to play for SuperSport United and Wits respectively.
Between the years 2002 and 2010, Baron played in six matches while wearing the Bafana jersey.
