Mnqobokazi Traditional Council are rural sport champs
Mnqobokazi Traditional Council from Umkhanyakude District have been crowned overall champions of the Rural Sport Development Programme Tournament held at Thokothe Sports Grounds, at Gcilima in Margate, KZN south coast yesterday, Saturday, 23 February 2019.
The tournament featured youth from five traditional councils, Maphumulo Traditional Council (TC) in eThekwini, Mnqobokazi TC in Umkhanyakude District, KwaXolo TC in Ugu, Vulindlela TC in Umzinyathi and Amaswazi TC in Uthukela. They competed in rugby, football, athletics and netball.
Competition was tough in all sport codes and despite the scorching heat, young people were determined to give it their all.
The Provincial Rural Sport Development Programme is one of the biggest club development initiatives, that targets youth from the disadvantaged backgrounds, specifically rural areas. It aims to promote sport in traditional council areas and to identify talent from these remote areas. It is held annually as a pilot that is funded by the National Department of Sport and Recreation and the KZN counterpart.
In the overall tally, Mnqobokazi emerged winners, followed by Maphumulo TC and Vulindlela TC came third.
Acting Head of Department of Sport and Recreation KZN, Dr Thobile Sifunda, who represented MEC Bongi Sithole-Moloi at the event, applauded all participants for braving the extreme heat to compete to the best of their ability.
“This tournament is in line with the vision of the Department of an active and winning province. You will go back home with pride because you have managed to demonstrate your talent. We want to create opportunities for all our young people to participate in sport. If you participate in sport you will have a healthy body and mind,” she said.
Sifunda also congratulated the hosting community of KwaXolo for maintaining the state of the art sports venue in good condition. The facility was handed over to the community by MEC Sithole-Moloi last year as part of the Department’s programme to build sports infrastructure for communities in rural and disadvantaged areas.
A number of similar facilities are being completed in various parts of the Province, including Nxamalala in Impendle, KwaMsane in Mtubatuba, Sonkombo in Ilembe and Mawombe in Mfolozi. These facilities will be officially handed over to communities in the next two months.