Umzingwane schools to expand sports repertoire

Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent

SCHOOLS in Mzingwane District are set to widen the number of sports they engage following efforts by Sports and Recreation Officer, Busani Ncube to bring coaches outside the area to teach pupils and teachers various sporting codes.

Ncube, who organised a tennis coaching sessions for pupils at Sacred Heart last week, said after realisation that it was only athletics, netball and football that were being played at most schools he set himself on the path of introducing more sporting codes at the schools.

The tennis session saw Emakhandeni Tennis Club coach, Witness Jiyane taking pupils at Sacred Heart Mission through their paces at the school as they have tennis courts but they have not been using them.

Early this month teachers from around the district also attended a session by Jiyane to ensure they are empowered to teach pupils in their respective schools.

“As someone who grew up in an environment with a huge range of sports, I felt it was unfair that we are only able to teach football, athletics and netball at schools because it’s not everyone who loves them or is talented in these disciplines.

“We need more sports and I have set a programme of ensuring that we get qualified coaches from within and outside the district to come and capacitate teachers while they also take the opportunity to get official coaching certificates in the respective disciplines,” he said.

Ncube said he has also approached Falcon College, situated in Esigodini and well known for its sporting capabilities, to assist them train teachers within the district.

He revealed Falcon agreed to partner them and several teachers will be traveling to the school and be attached to qualified coaches for varying periods to ensure they are able to coach at their schools.

“As a former policeman, I was involved in taekwondo, so I am teaching that to both teachers and pupils, I am also adept at aerobics and have held several sessions in various schools.“With the support of the Member of Parliament for Umzingwane, Levi Mayihlome, I managed to be given the opportunity to use the Ncema Valley Country Club in Esigodini, which has been lying derelict but has several sporting facilities that include courts for various sporting codes.

“Mayihlome has agreed to assist revamp the courts so they are in a functioning state and they would be opened to both the community and the schools,” said Ncube.