Makgoe re-launches school sports leagues

By Masilo Malakwane

INTABAZWE – The MEC for education Tate Makgoe officially re-launched the school sports leagues at a fully packed  Intabazwe stadium on Thursday last week.

This follows a two-year hiatus of school sporting activities caused by a devastating Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent suspension of all contact school sports in the country.

Popularly known as ‘Magnificent Wednesday School Sports Leagues’, the league’s include sporting codes such as football, netball, volleyball and softball for under-13 and under-19 boys and girls; the leagues are set to run from May until September 23 this year.

The goal is to revitalize school sport leagues that encourage learners to take part in extra and co-curricular programmes.

Makgoe said the primary objective of these leagues, among others, is to render support to curriculum delivery in schools, eliminate social skills that hinder the delivery of quality education in schools, and also identify learners’ talent and expose them to possible sports career paths.

He pointed out that participating in sport will eventually bring back glory days in the province such that it has a representative soccer team in the PSL like it used to.

“It is clear that participating in sports offers a lot of benefits for children and It also improves their thinking capacity, strengthens their body, mind, and overall fitness.”

Makgoe was accompanied by Maluti-a-Phofung MMC for sports, arts and culture, Khayi Molefe and the Executive Mayor of  Thabo Mofutsanyana District, Connie Msibi.

Speaking with this publication, Msibi emphasized that although sporting activities will be rolling out until September in the province, Covid-19 protocols should still be observed when participating in sport.

“We must continue to encourage educators and learners to take precautionary measures both inside and outside the classroom, to protect the learners and the community” said Msibi.

This school sports leagues were initially launched by MEC Tate Makgoe two years ago in Botshabelo. The re-launch comes after the government’s announcement to scrap the country’s lockdown and relax Covid-19 restrictions. Sporting activities have been given the green light to resume, allowing spectators back at the stadiums with 50% capacity and a proof of vaccination card.