Saheti School celebrates 20 years of Winter Sports Festival with 1,200 learners
The festival was founded by Saheti Primary School principal Sophia Zachariou in 2004 to create a platform for netball and soccer players to test their skills against the very best in school sport.
Saheti School was a hive of activity when the school recently hosted the annual Saheti Primary School Winter Sports Festival.
Celebrating its 20th year, the festival, which was held earlier this month, attracted hundreds of learners from near and far as they battled it out on the football fields and netball courts.
The festival was founded by Saheti Primary School principal Sophia Zachariou in 2004 to create a platform for netball and soccer players to test their skills against the very best in school sport.
ALSO READ: Saheti School turns the soil for new indoor sports centre construction
This year’s festival saw 1200 learners take to the fields and courts. Approximately 600 learners participated in the football tournament, while another 600 participated in the netball tournament.
Head of sport for Saheti Primary School, Warren Metzer, said that with the festival celebrating its 20th year, it was a very special one.
“For the local schools who support us, it is one of the highlights on their annual calendar, and we are so grateful to the schools such as Bedfordview, Dunvegan and Hurlyvale that support the festival.”
Metzer explained that the festival organisers extend invitations to local schools and then to schools further afield.
Metzer, who has been with Saheti for seven years, said the festival has grown over the years, with it only being forced to take a two-year break during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“As a head of sport, you want to be able to rely on other heads of sport from visiting schools, that they will not only show up on the day, but promote the idea that sport is a means to grow children not only physically, but also a way to teach them respect and discipline.
ALSO READ: Bedfordview Primary girls and boys warm up the 20th Saheti Winter Festival
“When you look at the sportsmanship between all the schools, it is so close, there is so much respect between the schools,” said Metzer.
He highlighted that poor sportsmanship is not tolerated at the festival.
“At the end of the day, we are teachers, we want to make sure that the children learn the right things, are behaving in the right way and that they are respecting each other win or lose.”
For Metzer, one of the highlights of the festival was the fact that it brought many Edenvale and Bedfordview learners and teachers together.
ALSO READ: SAHETI learners share anti-bullying solutions
“It brings a real sense of pride among our eastern schools, schools and community members alike look forward to attending because they know the quality of sport is of a very high standard.”
He thanked all the sponsors and the school’s management team for making the day possible.
Zachariou said one of her highlights of the day was driving to the Saheti School and seeing all the cars lined on the roads, knowing that most, if not all of them, were visitors attending the festival.
“That feeling knowing that they were coming to our school was immense,” said Zachariou.
She said a festival such as this happens with the support and backing of the community, the sponsors, the executive heads and head of departments.
“Everybody makes this happen, and that’s why it is so important to work as a team.
“You can have the vision, you can have the drive, but you need to have a team to believe in it all.”
Zachariou thanked everyone who believed in her 20 years ago and stood by her with the establishment of the festival.v
