Game on for school football leagues

The drive to revitalise South Africa’s school sports sector is gaining momentum with the re-introduction of school sports leagues.

Already three provinces – Mpumalanga, North West and Limpopo – have kicked off the flagship high school football leagues, with the other six provinces set to get underway soon.

The high school football league is a partnership between Adidas South Africa and the Department of Basic Education and will culminate in a national tournament for both boys and girls in early 2012. Adidas has delivered kit and equipment -- worth more than R1,25 million – for the DBE to distribute to participating schools while Unicef has donated nearly 200 000 footballs to get the ball rolling. Lead SA is also a mobilising partner for the school sports initiative.

South Africa is a football-crazy country, with fanatical supporters and players. On any given day in every corner of the country you will find young people showing off their skills on makeshift pitches. The establishment of the football leagues, and the other leagues which will follow, now offers these young people the opportunity to indulge in their passion in a structured and organised manner.

It is envisaged that the establishment of the various school leagues will not only promote health and wellness of learners but also be a medium to promote curriculum enrichment programmes in all high schools.

Apart from the action on the field, the football leagues will include a variety of competitions for learners and teachers who are participating in the football leagues as well as non-participating learners and teachers.  All competitions will be run via Mxit.

Speaking in Parliament during the 2011 Basic Education budget vote, Deputy Minister of Basic Education Enver Surty said the renewed focus on mass participation in sport in schools forms part of the promotion of a healthy life style.

“Through this programme we are aiming to ensure mass participation of all learners in sporting activities at school level. We are reviving the traditional Wednesdays and Fridays school sports leagues as well,” he said.

“It is through this kind of commitment to our youth and through a focussed sports development plan that we will definitely achieve great heights on the international sports arena.”
http://www.education.gov.za/Home/SportsLeagues/tabid/630/Default.aspx