Tsakane police encouraging sports participation to fight crime

Tsakane – The Tsakane SAPS, in partnership with the East Rand Football Association, youth desk, Brakpan Local Football Association and Build it, kicked off the annual Winter Holidays Soccer Tournament on June 17 in Tsakane.

The tournament is for u-13 players and an attempt to fight substance abuse.

According to Tsakane SAPS spokesperson Sgt Lerato Mngomezulu, the purpose of the tournament is to keep the youth busy during the holidays.

“Thirteen is a critical age, where children are easily influenced by all sorts of things,” says Mngomezulu.

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She explains that at this age children often experiment with drugs as a result of peer pressure and they start engaging in crime.

Therefore, engaging them in soccer discourages them from involvement in those negative patterns.

Tsakane SAPS school safety coordinator Sgt Lebohang Ramaesa would like to encourage other schools to be part of this initiative as crime prevention and crime fighting need everyone to join hands.

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Different primary schools in Tsakane will take part in the tournament and it will run over three days.

“We started with words of encouragement to the learners, encouraging them to focus on their school work, respect their teachers and playing the sport of their choice,” says Ramaesa.