Local sport team hope to score a sponsor
Founder of the Greenside Eagles baseball and softball teams, Hendrick Lebese believes a sponsorship will be a huge motivation to the children
POLOKWANE – Drugs and alcohol continue to be a serious challenge which destroys many youth’s lives and the country’s future. The lack of sport activities or facilities in both villages and kazis is believed to be the reason behind the high rate of taking drugs and alcohol by the youth.
To overcome that, Hendrick Lebese decided to bring together all the youth, aged between eight and 16, under one sport roof. The 41-year-old from ext 44 in Greenside outside Polokwane believes sport is the only tool that can be used to take children off the streets.
Lebese is the founder of the Greenside Eagles baseball and softball teams.
“The world is no longer safe and seeing a child roam the streets without parents in position indeed worries me,” said Lebese.
He said their kazi is too dangerous and that children should be kept busy so they can avoid roaming the streets.
“Our youth have already adopted the gangsterism lifestyle which cost many their precious lives,” he said. Lebese believes that forming this team will help combat crime in their kazi.
“We live in a place with a mixture of various cultures which might be dangerous to the children. This is a rainbow nation team because it welcomes all children despite their cultures. We aim to build a better society with a great future,” he said.
Lebese said the children are the country’s future and they should therefore be protected.
“It is crucial that we raise our children in a way that they will be able to stand up for themselves in the future,” said Lebese.
He started bringing the children together in 2016, hoping to see their parents show up and support.
“I am passionate about sport and I believe it is my calling to bring together the youth under one sport roof,” he said.
Lebese said it was not easy at first as some parents could not trust him with their children. “I am happy that the team grows week by week and the support I get from the parents becomes a force behind the team,” he said. They meet at their local sport ground after schools.
“The exercises we do keeps them fresh, energetic and healthy all the time. We believe a sponsorship will be a huge motivation to the children,” he said.
