West Rand well represented in Gauteng team for National Indigenous Games
Athletes from the Tshwane, Sedibeng/ Emfuleni, Ekurhuleni, Central Johannesburg and West Rand regions descended on the Munsieville Sport Complex for the 16th Annual Indigenous Games and a shot at the provincial team.
The township of Munsieville in Mogale City came alive on Saturday September 11 to select the toughest, high performing and meanest athlete to be part of Team Gauteng set to compete at the National Indigenous Games on Heritage Day later this month.
Five venues around Krugersdorp were pinned for numerous activities. The opening and closing were held at the Munsieville Sport Complex, which was also the venue for Kgati, Drie-Stokies and Intonga; Coronation Park hosted Diketo and Jukskei; Town View High School hosted Morabaraba and Ncuva; and HTS N Diederichs THS hosted Dibeke and Khokho.
Gauteng MEC of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Mbali Hlophe said the games weare meant to celebrate the diverse cultural heritage and promote social cohesion amidst the devastating carnage caused by the Covid-19 epidemic.
Athletes came from Gauteng regions including Tshwane, Sedibeng/ Emfuleni, Ekurhuleni, Central Johannesburg and West Rand.
Team West Rand finished in second place overall while Sedibeng took first spot. Ekurhuleni and Joburg were neck in neck for third position.
As far as team selection is concerned West Rand had six athletes selected – three women and three men – in the code Khokho. Tshwane had one representative, Ekurhuleni four, and Sedibeng had eight – four women and four men.
In the Dibeke code West Rand sneaked in four athletes; Ekurhuleni dominated in the code of intonga; Tshwane placed first under the code Drie-stokies; with the West Rand finishing in second place.
The codes of Kgati and Ncuva were dominated by Joburg.
Team Gauteng will be gunning for the national championship title on September 24 in KwaZulu-Natal.
“As the provincial motto says, ‘This is who we are, the home of a champion’.”/font>
