Waterloo Solar, in partnership with Naledi Local Municipality, has launched a flagship programme in support of school sports at a primary school level. The Primary School Sports Program Lekgotla, hosted on Wednesday, January 25 2024 by Claire Phutieagae, announced the program at the Naledi Banquet Hall with the intention of encouraging local primary schools to adopt sports programs as early as possible, in order to facilitate sustainable long-term sporting careers.

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The event was attended by representatives from the Department of Education and various primary schools in Naledi, the Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, and stakeholders in youth sports. Guest speaker Fabian McCarthy, emphasised the importance of early development for not only its physical advantages, but also for the principles of discipline, commitment and character building. “Children should not be playing to win,” the national footballer says, “but for enjoyment. It is within a child to want to have fun.”

McCarthy, who went on to play for clubs like Bloemfontein Celtics and Kaizer Chiefs, and eventually Bafana Bafana, began his sporting career at the tender age of three years, a privilege to which he attributes his later success. Born and raised in Vryburg, he was not always a top player, he said. In fact, his name was often last in the starting line. “Our mayor, Groep, was the top goal scorer. I think I assisted three or four goals for him,” and he explains that this was what instilled in him a sense of team work and pride.

Taking co-lead on this project is Klaas-Jan Top, the Sports Co-Ordinator at Naledi Local Municipality, who outlined an approach to talent identification that begins with mass participation. “We get as many kids as we can to participate, expose them to two training sessions and a game every week.

And as long as they are playing on a regular basis, talent will show.” There was much emphasis by the presenters, on the holistic impact of early participation in sports on young people, including overall health, self-esteem, proclivity to substance abuse, and depression.

The aim is to get 2 200 learners to join this program. In order to garner participation from schools, which has previously been lacking, a questionnaire was presented to school representatives in order to assess the needs of the respective schools. Waterloo Solar will then provide support in terms of equipment, assistance in accessing funds to improve sporting facilities, and other needs as they may arise. Waterloo Solar has a strong community development track record, including sponsoring an 8-day SAFA D License accredited training course last year, which produced almost 20 coaches who are equipped to develop and implement training plans and sessions. They will be placed in schools around Naledi Municipality.

The program, which supports netball, football, basketball, cricket and chess, is slated to begin in March, and plans are underway to include more sporting codes as it grows. This initiative is supported by North West Cricket, KFC Mini Cricket, the Departments of Education and Sports, Arts and Culture respectively, SAFA and other sports organizations.

– The VIP Team (By: Nokuthula Makhoba)

-Waterloo Solar