Sport does not thrive in isolation. It flourishes where there is collective effort, where parents, administrators, coaches and officials pull in the same direction.

That is how institutions such as Benoni Northerns Sports Club became what they are today. Not by accident. Not by chance. But through members and parents who showed up, paid subs, volunteered, asked questions, offered help and stood on the sidelines week after week.

Parental support in sport, especially for children, remains one of the key pillars of success. It has been proven that when a child feels seen, supported and encouraged at home, performance follows. Confidence grows. Enjoyment increases. Resilience strengthens.

Youngsters like Emma Hickley, Kaitlyn Mackay and Anele Skwatsha are among many Benoni children who enjoy full parental backing in their sporting journeys.

They compete knowing someone is watching. They push harder knowing someone cares. They cope better with defeat because someone is there to console them afterwards.

Support is not a luxury in sport. It is fuel.

That is why it was painful listening to Etwatwa Warriors netball coach Sibongile Ngcobo detail the battles she faces to keep her team afloat.

Sibongile, who survives by selling ice cream in Etwatwa, stretches every rand she earns to ensure her players have equipment, transport to tournaments and even basic nutrition. She is doing it largely on her own while also trying to keep children away from the dangers that lurk in our communities.

She is part of the NetGolf Academy, which hosted a golf day fundraiser at Benoni Country Club on March 4 to raise funds for the Warriors.

Strangers stepped in to help. But where were the parents?

Why are more of them not on the sidelines? Why are they not attending matches to witness the impact of Sibongile’s sacrifices? Why aren’t they making small monthly contributions to keep the club stable?
Why are administrators and volunteer coaches left carrying the entire load?

Also Read: The Corner Flag: Athletes should take the spotlight, not administrators

Yes, we understand the socio-economic realities. Many township parents leave home before sunrise and return after dark. Some work weekends. Transport costs are high. Time is scarce. These challenges are real and cannot be ignored.

But what about those who are available?

What about those who can attend one match a month, contribute a modest fee, help with transport rotations, assist at tournaments, or simply show up and clap?

Children notice presence. They notice absence even more.

It is always refreshing seeing parents lining cross-country routes, cheering loudly as their children grind through the kilometres. That presence matters. It tells a child: “You matter.”

Leaders like Sibongile are acting in loco parentis. They are mentors, counsellors, disciplinarians and motivators rolled into one. They deserve more than applause. They deserve a partnership.

In many suburban clubs, parents understand this ecosystem. Weekends are reserved for sport. They attend matches not only to watch their children but to observe how the club functions. If help is needed, they step in.

That is how sustainable structures are built. That is how clubs grow from modest beginnings into institutions.
Township sport deserves the same collective commitment.

Coaches cannot do it alone. Administrators cannot fund programmes alone. Officials cannot maintain standards alone. When parents disengage, the entire structure weakens. When they engage, everything changes.

The truth is simple: talent is everywhere. Support is not.

If we truly want our children to succeed, not only in sport but in life, we must show up. On the sidelines. In meetings. At fundraisers. In conversations. In contributions, however small.

Sibongile should not be begging strangers while serving the very children of parents who stay silent.
We can do better. And it starts with being present.

Also Read: The Corner Flag: Why young runners need the track before the road