School ready to produce sporting champs
Reshogofaditswe Secondary School and six other schools received new sporting gear for netball and soccer.
Tsakani – Minister of the national Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, Zizi Kodwa, and Deputy Minister Nocawe Mafu officially handed over a multi-purpose sports facility at Reshogofaditswe Secondary School on May 24.
Kodwa said the Reshogofaditswe learners should respect the new facility.
“We are handing over this facility to this school and its learners. The learners must use and protect the facility. In the past, our schools never had sports facilities, so today and tomorrow, we want to see champions coming from this school to represent SA globally. This school should produce stars.
“We want to see superstars who will play for Bafana Bafana, we want to see the best players play for Banyana Banyana, and we want to see the best netballers come from this school. I want to see this school’s learners representing SA through national teams because sports are about having a lifestyle. There are things sports can prevent.
“We must keep in mind that alcohol is not a sport, drugs are not sports, and participating in sports hinders participation in dangerous activities. Learners should protect the facility from criminals who might want to vandalise it,” said Kodwa.
Kodwa said they opened the new facility and donated books and sporting gear.
“We also want to give the school some of the best sporting kits for netball and soccer. We also brought books to add to the school’s library. Reading books energises the mind from doing wrong things. Nothing is as dangerous as a loitering mind that does not know what to do. It is important to read and keep studying,” added Kodwa.
Mafu said that the pocketbooks they are adding to the school’s library teach about national identity.
“Patriotism means loving your country. These books are called Passport to Patriotism. They educate about all the national symbols – the national anthem, the meaning of the protea flower and the colours incorporated in our national flag. This book is important because it teaches us about our country,” said Mafu.
School principal Michael Phala said Reshogofaditswe means “we are blessed”.
“Today, we are blessed by the minister’s presence. The school has been doing well academically and in sports.
“Last year, the school obtained an 83% pass rate in matric, we won several sporting completions and currently have a learner who will represent the province in a provincial competition.
“We are working hard as a school to produce stars. The new sporting facility will help some learners realise their potential and be motivated to actualise their dreams. We are grateful for the facility.
“Our netball team will do well because of the encouragement the new facility will bring,” said Phala.
