Sam Nape
The month of June will bring along memories, 44 years ago in the livelihood of our youth.
Disappointingly the years did come in and passed with less to carry over our life span as a remembrance to be attributed to changes that were impacted on us by those years.
An African proverb accuses a goat of not bearing enough offspring.
The goat’s answer is because its womb is small compared to a pig.
There are always reasons why we fail to achieve achievable in life.
Unachievable and unidentifiable changes of June 16 celebrations will be blamed on COVID-19, its regulations and restrictions.
It was easy for us to follow up these past celebrations as participants too since such events never existed during our times and thus remain belated celebrations.
Standing between two generations of before 44 years and after 44 years, one will face a vacuum not to be proud of. As the youth pre-1976 one will boast about achievements of Teacher Alex Mampane; Teacher Rampa; Teacher Mathobela as achievers in Tennis. Croach Malelane; Paul Tshehla; Lucas Sefako in Boxing.
Zondo Macoloured, City Council; Shakes Nhlapo; Donald Mashaba in Witbank Black Aces in National Football.
Annelien Kriel in international Miss Universe.
Teacher Sam Khoza in Athletics.
Latin American Dancers; Swimmers, Jazz crusaders; Karate and Judo Black Belts, Basket Ball and golf masqueraders filled up our weekly sports newspapers since facilities were available.
We had all these national and international achievers albeit they are no more but they used their talents and age to put eMalahleni on the map.
Now, post 1976, who is supposed to follow up on available municipal swimming pools?
Who must scream for tennis courts whilst both the Puma and Lynnville stadium courts are ideal soft grounds to grow dagga?
Who must organize Beauty Pageants at our community halls? Who must prepare a boxing club stage infested with rodents whilst we yearn to raise international boxers, basket and baseball players here in eMalahleni?
No one will dispute the history of eMalahleni who make a big scoop of wrong top provincial and national awards on drugs; female murders and elimination of albinos, children throttled and annihilated from this world by parents; gun-trotting hijackers and rapists, criminals who will shoot a 13-year-old future Mayor execution-style, not to mention rife delinquency in municipal operations.
Unfortunately, the youth are and will be the victims.
The 16th of June must be our drawing board to shape up years ahead.
Year in and year out remains the same when 44 years ago was meant to change the youth of eMalahleni as provincial, national and international achievers.
Some of us are not even counted at the Japan Olympics next year because no one cared for us.
Will I ever play golf next to Tiger Woods when an opportunity was not created for me whilst celebrating the Youth Month?
Whose fault is it that the Mahlangu twins or the Kruger triplets of eMalahleni did not challenge the American William sisters at the Wimbledon Tennis Cup they dominated so long?
Some of us were especially born to be loyal lifelong spectators in all sports only talented to scream, swear and throw eggs and tomatoes in the pitch without a miss.
I better bow down to COVID-19 which is here to devour and kill should I not listen to my President and stay at home on the 16th June.
