By BAKANG MOKOTO

The community of Taung welcomed the Wednesday School Sport launch at Sebitloane Special School in Taung on Wednesday. North West MEC of Education and Sport Development department, Sello Lehari said the initiative will assist the department to go ‘Back2Basics’ and ensure that sport is active at schools.

Lehari further said children as young as six will be part of the implementation. He added that the aim is to prepare children from the tender age to ensure that they become complete players.

“Not all of us can excel academically and some people can use their natural talents to survive. It is our responsibility to ensure that those who want to embark on various sporting codes are given necessary support. Most of professionals started at school to nurture their talents. Our department will invite various coaches to come and scout talents during our school games.

“Former Bafana Bafana captain and Kaizer Chief defender, Lucas Radebe will be heading this programme. He will be working along with Motsweding FM news anchor, Boitumelo Korogo in this programme. We have also acquired services of twelve former soccer players who will assist in talent identification at schools,” he said.

Lehari added that those who will be assisting the department to identify talent will get stipends from the department. He said all these games will go according to stages.

“Our games will commence in villages, wards, municipalities and districts. When we reach the district stage, we will now invite those experts who specialise in soccer to assist us to identify talents. We will now form the North West Provincial School squad and invite other provinces to play against,” Lehari said.

One of the community members, Pako Khonkhobe said: “I have personally taken part in several structures of sport in the Dr Ruth Mompati District. So, I welcome the initiative by the North West Provincial government. The department needs to be applauded in attempt to bring back Sport Wednesday at schools. However, I still believe that there is a serious need in terms of infrastructure.

“There is a mindset that the district has monumentally under-performed in athletics to in terms of building the provincial team that is going to Paarl in Western Cape to represent the province sometimes this month. Out of all those learners who participated, the district managed to produce only two who formed the provincial team.”

One of teachers, Samuel Sekgota from Hikane Primary School in Morokweng village, near Ganyesa shared the same sentiments. Sekgota said they welcome the Wednesday League.

“The initiative will enable our learners to be more proactive in sport, particularly in soccer. We only have soccer in Morokweng because it is deep rural area. However, we would like to see our children being exposed to other sporting codes,” he said.

Former Bafana Bafana and Sundowns PSL player, Lovers Mohlala said: “This will ensure that our children are focused and stop indulging in alcohol, drugs and other socio-economic challenges. I am grateful that our services will be used to ensure that we empower our youngsters. We need to guide them as they are emerging talents that need to be nurtured. North West has the potential and it is where legends are born.”

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