Sunnyside Basketball Club values inclusiveness in difficult times

The Sunnyside Basketball Club (SBC) called on residents and business people to work with them to improve the Sunnyside sports centre.

“This would contribute to uniting the community and is something upcoming generations will be proud of,” said SBC chairperson, Mncedisi Khoza, during a fundraising meeting at their clubhouse at the centre on Friday.

Khoza also invited residents and businesses to support their club financially and in other ways.

He said the SBC was taking advantage of the power of sports in uniting people, who were from different walks of life.

“Inclusiveness is our top value,” he said, adding that the SBC welcomed everyone irrespective of their economic background and nationality.

Khoza said the role of the SBC was more important during this difficult period in South Africa.

“For South Africans and other African brothers and sisters to solve their problems and live in harmony in their forefathers’ continent, they first need to find one another. This is possible through basketball.”

He said this was not an unrealistic objective as a good relationship between locals and foreign nations grows almost daily in the club.

“We have various nationalities in our club and we accommodate both females and males.”

He said although the club was dominated by South African players at the moment they were proud that a number of their players were from more than 15 African countries.

They expected that number to grow, citing that their growth was satisfactory as they had more than 300 registered members.

The SBC has several teams including u.14 girls’ team, u.14 boys, u.16 girls, u.16 boys, u.18 girls, u.18 boys, senior ladies and senior men.

The club’s players are well taken care of by talented coaches who help them develop their skills and excel in the field of play, he said.

Sunnyside CPF chairperson Sandile Dube said they were extremely excited about the project.

“Sunnyside is a youthful community and the youth has a lot of energy that needs to be used in sports such as basketball rather than being wasted in criminal activities,” he said.

Dube said it was clear that the SBC had provided an avenue for the children as well as adults to direct their energy.

He said the vision of the club simple encouraged people to be responsible and uphold the vision of the country that it is non-sexist and non-discriminatory.

Ethiopian businessman Addissu Baile Bolomo said he was happy about the project.

“I grew up in Sunnyside and love anything good about this place.”

He said he would support the team and urged other businesses to do the same.

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