D. Kappel, written 3 months ago
*Stars are shining in Stellenbosch
On the 04th November was the kick-off of a new football tournament series, for disadvantaged children in Stellenbosch, this November. This tournament was the first of four events of the Youth Sport Initiative developed by Stellenbosch University’s Sport Performance Institute (SUSPI) and *Stars of Tomorrow. 80 boys and 60 girls from local schools, therefor became true winners of Stellenbosch University’s HOPE Project.
It was the first tournament of it’s kind for the Youth Sport Initiative, where both the teams from the After School Programme and the newly implemented Outreach Programme interacted. But what made it even more special was the fact that children, who train regularly in the After School Programme, were able to stand their ground against teams, whose schools are part of *Stars of Tomorrow’s youngest grassroots level project. It was noticeable that as ’Physical Education’ is not an official part of the South African school schedule anymore, huge differences between the After School kids and their opponents, of the same ages, were apparent. Whilst the grade four learners, who take part in the After School Programme, are practicing three times per week including academic and life skills education, their opponents only have one weekly opportunity to enjoy football and to develop much needed life skills through the Outreach Programme.
Asked about the final ranking of the tournament, Vossie Van Schalkwyk, Project Manager of the After School Programme, answered “Nobody lost today, every child was a winner!“ That’s true – because this was the first time for most of the children that they could compete on the new FIFA accredited aritifical grass field and state-of-the-art futsal courts, which form part of Stellenbosch University’s Football Centre at Lentelus.
Through this tournament SUSPI and *Stars of Tomorrow were able to make the eyes of many little stars of tomorrow shine. On the 11th November the focus will be on grade three learners of the involved schools and during the tournament on the 18th November, for grade two learners, the new participants of the After School Programme in 2012 will be scouted. This new series of football tournaments will climax with the ’Year end function’ of the Youth Sport Initiative on the last Saturday in November, so watch out for more HOPE updates.
