The Maitland and Kensington Primary School athletics meet in Blue Downs Stadium last week has thrown up 19 young track and field stars who will compete at the Western Province Championships and possibly make the team to compete for WP in the national event.
One of the brightest on the day was Garden Village Primary’s Sinesipho Sonjica, 13, who won the 100m and 200m as well as the long jump event. Not far behind her was Ebrahim Ryklief, 13, of Kenmere Primary. He took first place in the 100m and 200m sprints, and second place in the long jump.
The Blue Downs event was in danger of being cancelled due to the ongoing water crisis but cooler heads prevailed and it went ahead with eager athletes from seven schools in the Kensington and Garden Village areas competing in 32 events.
As it has done since its establishment four years ago, not-for-profit community organisation Play Sport4Life was central in getting the event running like a well-oiled machine.
Play Sport4Life’s chief executive, Miles October, said his organisation supported the convening school with their expert coaches lending a helping hand to ensure that the event occurred without a glitch.
“Quite frankly, I was absolutely thrilled that the event went ahead,” Mr October said. The water crisis has caused havoc with sporting events throughout the Cape Town area but it is important that we try, as much as possible to ensure these kids are able to participate in sporting events which mean so much to them.
“On the day, four records were smashed in field events and one on the track. Any one of those record breakers might end up following in the footsteps of Akani Simbine, Wayde van Nikerk or Caster Semenya.
“This is an important time of the year in the athletics calendar and it is incumbent on schools and athletics officials to ensure that as many schools events as possible go ahead.
“We at Play Sport4Life are ready to help out wherever possible to make it happen. There is always a Plan B. In fact, we have already implemented a Plan B for our regular schools holiday sports programs because the water crisis had made our usual location unavailable.
“The children must participate in healthy sports activity and be given every possible opportunity to do so. The focus shouldn’t only be on saving the sports events of elite teams such as the Stormers and Cobras
“PS4L continues to work on behalf of local communities, striving to provide all children and young adults with the equal opportunity to play sport for their physical and educational development. Every child deserves the chance to Play Sport4Life.”
For further information contact: Connor Walsh on +2721 461 4436
For more information on Play Sport4Life visit www.playsport4life.org
Background on Play Sport 4 Life
Play Sport4Life (PS4L) is a non-profit company operating in the Kensington, Factreton and Maitland (KFM) areas in Cape Town. The company was established to provide opportunities for children, youth and adults to participate in sport, and in so doing, help them become healthier, more responsible citizens in their community.
PS4L Objectives:
- Getting youth off the streets and in a safe environment where they can play, have fun and learn basic principles and values such as teamwork and respect.
- Using the sporting environment to educate the children in our community about dealing with everyday dangers such as substance abuse, gangsterism, domestic violence and having unprotected sex.
- Getting children off the streets and away from gangsters who can influence them whilst parents are working and not able to supervise them.
- Providing employment opportunities for individuals in our community within the sporting environment.
- Developing and nurturing individuals to serve as future role models for our community.
- Getting more girls and women in the community to participate in sport.
- Developing and nurturing individuals to become professional athletes.