BY OBAKENG MAJE
THE soccer is the only popular sport among black youth and that includes Ranstad village youth, in Taung. The youth in Ranstad village especially football players gathered together and created a soccer field just next to the graveyard more than 10 years ago.

According to former Stone Breakers player, said they came up with an idea to rescue the youth from drugs and alcohol abuse.

Paul Mooki (38) said they went to the Batlhaping Ba-ga Phuduhucwana Tribal Authority to ask for a soccer field and were granted the land next to the graveyard.

Unfortunately headmaster, Oshebile Phatlhanyane told them to remove their poles from the land and allow graves to be allocated on the field.

“We were granted this field more than ten years ago and as you know soccer is something that keeps the youth away from committing crime, and be involved in drugs and alcohol” Paul Mooki said.

Mooki said Phatlhanyane did not consult with them before taking any decision.

“We were just told to move away from the field without proper consultations. We want explanations regarding the decision took by this headmaster. We will not budge as we created this field with our own bare hands by removing debris and cleaned the land to be in a form of a field as it is today” Mooki outlines.

Another soccer player, Itemogeng Orapeleng(18) said the field helps them a lot because as players, they train there to keep healthy.

“I would like to see myself ply my trade in one of the best clubs in elite league, now we do not have anywhere to go because the headmaster wants to take away our only field” Orapeleng said.

However, Phatlhanyane(68) refutes the claims and said the soccer club was given that land for temporary.

“Those boys were given that land temporarily and now all graveyards are full, now we need to use that land to bury our loved ones.

“We reported the matter to the paramount chief, Tshepo Mankuroane and he promised to come and see for himself. We will take the final decision regarding the matter on the 21 April 2015” Phatlhanyane said.

The players also said that Phatlhanyane isn’t their chief as the Ranstad village does not falls under Kolong village jurisdiction, but Phatlhanyane laughed his lungs off and said the players are too young and they know nothing.

“All those who said I’m not the chief for that area, they are out of their minds as Kolong and Ranstad villages fall under my jurisdiction. Since from 1970s, the area was one and it is only that the village has grown immensely and now that place is called Ranstad village instead” he said.
-TDN
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