Football club for nyaope addicts in Tembisa
The football club aims to keep the youth busy at all times so that they can resist the addiction.
The Tembisa SAPS, together with its CPF, formed a football club called Smokeless FC for the youth suffering from nyaope addiction in Tembisa.
According to Sergeant Lucas “Bushy” Nkoko, from the Tembisa South SAPS, the football club aims to keep the youth busy at all times so that they can resist the addiction.
“Since we held the prayer march against drugs, addicted young people are responding well to the police. They give us hope that they could resist the addiction. It shows they need support from the community at large. People should not abandon them on the street. If we can all start doing something, maybe one or two of them could end up recovering from the nyaope addiction,” he said.
Sgt Nkoko is appealing to all stakeholders to stand up and help those who are addicted to nyaope within the Tembisa township.
The CPF chairperson, Mr Khabo Napo, said with the football club established, they are hoping young people will be able to keep busy.
“We urge members of the community to stop criticising these boys and girls who are addicted to drugs and to help them recover,” he added.
Lebogang More (24), who is an orphan, said he wants to resist the addiction of Nyaope but fails when he is alone.
“I am used to smoking six bags of nyaope a day. Each bag is R30. For me to be able to sustain the addiction, I get money from local taxi drivers after helping to get more passengers,” he said.
He started smoking nyaope in 2005.
“I found my friends smoking nyaope and I wanted to taste it. I started having stomach cramps but after taking it I became fine. I tried to stop from smoking nyaope but it is difficult. When I smoke nyaope I feel better,” he added.
Meanwhile, his friend Jabu Zwane (25) said he spent R300 every day on nyaope.
“As long as I have R30 I buy nyaope. I become short tempered and angry when I do not have money to buy nyaope,” he said.
Zwane said he wants to stop smoking nyaope and that he wants to take charge of his life.
The Tembisa South SAPS address those addicted to the drug every Wednesday and Friday.
For more information about Smokeless FC, contact Sgt Nkoko on 082 421 9978 or Mr Napo on 076 7477603.
