Sir Elton John celebrates birthday at football centre

Sir Elton John celebrated his birthday today by visiting football-mad teenagers at a South African centre helping with HIV education.

The musician, who turned 63, is touring the country to visit projects which have benefited from £10 million in funding from his Elton John Aids Foundation.

Former Watford Football Club chairman Sir Elton met teenagers at the Football for Hope Centre (FFH) in Khayelitsha Township just outside Cape Town.

The FFH Centre is a project of Grassroots Soccer, an international charity that trains African football stars, coaches and teachers to help youngsters learn more about HIV prevention and healthy lifestyles.

The centre holds voluntary HIV counselling and testing sessions in communities.

The musician said: "Soccer stars are the most powerful role models for young people today so it's fantastic that organisations like Grassroots Soccer are harnessing that power to educate young people about HIV."

Sir Elton and his partner David Furnish are in the country - soon to host the World Cup - for a week. He has already hosted a fundraising dinner at Cape Town's exclusive One & Only Resort to raise money for local projects.

"I can't think of a better way to celebrate my birthday," said Sir Elton.

Grassroots Soccer director Kirk Freidrich said: "It's great to have Elton and his foundation showing interest in our work. It raises the profile of what we are doing, especially in World Cup year, and was a huge treat for the kids."