The Corner Flag: Township schools deserve better sports facilities

Nothing has ruffled feathers in South African sports since 1994 more than the so-called quota system.

For those who don’t know, the system was a form of affirmative action designed to address the historical under-representation of players of colour in sports like rugby, cricket and athletics.

It mandated a minimum number of players from townships and rural areas in provincial and national teams to “dismantle structural barriers, promote grassroots development and inspire future generations of athletes from diverse backgrounds.”

Whether this system has succeeded or not is a debate for another day. What truly concerns me is the state of grassroots sports, particularly school sport, where I believe the government and sports administrators have failed dismally, especially in providing resources to township schools.

Ask anyone: school sport is better organised and the soil is fertile for young talent to grow. It’s where many of our successful elite athletes first showcased their potential.

For years, we’ve heard leaders preach about developing grassroots sport, yet when you visit schools in our townships, the reality tells a very different story.

The past three years have shown how vital school sport is in nurturing the next generation of stars – just look at Bayanda Walaza and Riley Norton, whose talents have taken them to the world stage.

Walaza is an Olympic silver medallist while Norton represented South Africa at last year’s ICC U19 World Cup before leading the junior Springboks to the World Rugby U20 title in Italy.

They are products of some of the best schools in South Africa. Norton was head boy at Paul Roos Gimnasium while Walaza is a Curro Hazeldean alumnus.

Their rise proves what’s possible when schools have the right facilities and structured sports programmes in place.

But what happens when a school has none of that? A visit to Etwatwa Secondary School in Wattville on October 1 painted a painful picture of neglect: peeling paint, crumbling walls, collapsing ceilings and a fence that barely stands.

The netball team, despite its impressive record, has no proper court to train or compete on. Instead, these determined young girls play on the pavement, risking injury just to keep their passion alive. The volleyball court also leaves much to be desired.

This is a snapshot of a much bigger crisis, one where township schools are stripped of opportunity while government officials boast about developing future champions.

Township learners deserve more than crumbling classrooms and makeshift sports grounds. They deserve the same opportunities available to their suburban counterparts: proper facilities, equipment and support to chase their dreams both on the field and in the classroom.

If we truly want South Africa to produce world-class athletes, we cannot keep ignoring the schools that are supposed to be the starting point. The netball, volleyball and soccer players of Etwatwa Secondary School deserve proper facilities that match their passion and potential.

It’s time for the government, communities and alumni to step up before another generation of talent is lost to neglect.

Otherwise, politicians will keep hiding their failures with systems that, in the main, reward mediocrity over merit.

Also Read: The Corner Flag: Excuses don’t make champions

Also Read: The Corner Flag: Playgrounds of decay