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Talent without facilities

No sporting facilities for a community who's passionate about sport

A community who is passionate about sport, has no sporting facilities.

Tholi Madondo, founder of Talent Tracker SA (TTSA), tackled the problem of sports development in informal settlements by encouraging youth to take part in sport.

TTSA has 23 registered teams of soccer, netball and cricket.

They have no facilities to practice and use any open space.

“We clean up open spaces to practice and play but as time goes by, the ground is back to how it was.

“We want to put the space to good use,” Madondo said.

They also offer arts and culture, soccer clinics, a feeding scheme and a tournament where talent scouts are present.

By providing youth with such programmes, Madondo said he is trying to save children from alcohol, drugs and being victims of crime.

The feeding scheme and Sports over Drugs and Alcohol programme is run from Madondo’s back yard.

“We have many children who like swimming but we don’t have a swimming pool in Kliptown.

“People always ask where the black swimmers are, I say you can find them in rivers in informal settlements,” Madondo said.

TTSA has support from businesses that assist them with sports equipment, food and cleaning up the areas but needs support from anybody who would build a sports ground for residents of Kliptown, Madondo said.

He was a dedicated soccer player until he got an injury and could no longer play soccer.

“I was a soccer player and that’s all I ever wanted to be, now I want to give that same dream to children.

“I saw things that were missing when I played, I want the children to have those missing things,” Madondo said.

The children who belong to TTSA are poor, have no food, no home and some are abused but are talented, Madondo said.

“We have seen that some children have got what it takes to make it in sport but their situations are heartbreaking,” said Madondo.

The 23 teams are forced to share a makeshift soccer field.

Training starts with the first team at 3pm and ends with the last team before 8pm.

The field does not have grass, change-rooms, water or any lighting.

The closest sports field is in Extension nine but Madondo fears for the lives of children who belong to TTSA.

“We have to cross many busy roads and when returning home some of our boys got robbed of their cellphones and soccer boots,” Madondo said.

He said they aren’t asking for money, just a sports facility that would make training and practicing easier.

He appreciates the help from Pick n Pay Kliptown, A & A Motor Spares and Blue Ribbon and is calling on sponsors to help children who are passionate about sport with a sports ground.

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