Major lift for rural sport scene

Sporting talent will be unearthed in the country’s rural areas, thanks to the launch of the Rural Sport Development Programme.

Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula says the programme will move sport in rural communities forward, giving athletes in netball, football, rugby, cricket and athletics a chance to rise.

He launched the programme at the Walter Sisulu University in Mthatha.

“Transformation is a bottom up approach, which means we must invest in the development of talent in township and rural communities. By doing this, we amplify work already done by rural communities because they are actively involved in playing sport already.

“Ours is to equip these young people with sport facilities so they are not disadvantaged because of the communities they are born in,” said Minister Mbalula.

The programme adds on the already existing School Sport Programme and will be rolled out in provinces such as the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape.

The Rural Sport Development Programme will be implemented with the involvement of the House of Traditional Leaders as they are key in the governance of rural communities and the Department of Basic Education, which governs schools.

The Rural Sport Development Programme emanates from the department’s National Sport and Recreation Plan, which highlights the need to develop and invest in previously disadvantaged communities.

Source: Government Communication and information System

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