BY BAKANG MOKOTO
Kagisano-Molopo local municipal mayor, Bitsa Lenkopane bequeathed sports equipment to eight football teams across the municipality recently. Lenkopane handed over eight sets of soccer kits and footballs to local teams that participated in the Youth Development Sports Tournament held in Tosca sports ground in Tosca during Easter weekend.
“The tournament was one of our continuous youth support and development programmes. Our aim is to make a growing impact with every service delivery programme we undertake. We aim at fighting poverty, inequality and unemployment within our society through sport. The basic service the municipality render to our people must have impact in their lives with an everlasting change.
“The tournament was also part of response to Bokone Bophirima Premier, Supra Mahumapelo’s ten point plan addressing sports development and participation campaign. It is also the address to the obesity challenge that concerns Mahumapelo. We want to get every member of the society to actively participate in any sport activity to keep fit and healthy,” she said.
Lenkopane added that with this tournament, they brought everybody together to participate. She further said this was a stepping stone towards sport development especially in far-flung areas.
“The sport also brings families and communities together. I remember during our youth days where families will flock to sporting fields to enjoy themselves. Sport activities used to bring people together. Supporting our favourite teams used to make us a family where we built strong bonds among us and lookout for each other.
“Remember we are in a process of rebuilding our community. The donation of these sport equipment goes beyond the sport itself. The initiative also addresses five concretes of service delivery. With these activities, we aim at Reconciling, Healing and Renewal of our people. We create a platform for the village economy where local hawkers and retailers will benefit,” she said.
Lenkopane also urged teams to sustain their existence and encouraged them to recruit more young people into their ranks for a continuous participation in sport.
The second leg of the tournament will be played in Itireleng village, in ward 8 in a fortnight’s time.
The Guardian 