Soccer legend calls for revival of schools sports

Soccer legend Jabu Mahlangu has decried the dearth of the sport in township schools as a contributory factor to the nation’s poor performance in continental and global competitions.

Mahlangu, a former Kaizer Chiefs and national team player was speaking at Emfundisweni Primary School where he was part of a delegation of Protea Hotels’ Melrose branch staff who were donating school shoes to needy pupils. Mahlangu said abundant talent in township schools was being lost as football, netball and athletics were no longer formal and regular activities of school life.

He said many players of his age had became sports stars after being spotted at school events when sports were compulsory activities on Wednesdays. Mahlangu said that if nurtured, many talented children who were not gifted academically could use sport as a means to earn a decent living.

“Unfortunately, children are now let to roam the streets exposing themselves to all sorts of anti-social activities resulting in drug abuse and addiction, teenage pregnancy and criminal activities they emulate from bad role models who roam the streets with ulterior motives.”

He said the lack of sport at township schools was a concern, unlike the situation at former models C and private schools where, rugby, cricket, soccer and netball were an integral part of the school curriculum.

“They [model C and private schools] are well-resourced and children engage in competitions regularly where they are spotted by scouts, with parents also attending in large numbers to motivate the children, some who become global sports stars,” he said. “The same should apply in soccer to rescue the abundant national talent and sports resources in the township.”

Details: Mirial Ryan, Protea Hotel, Melrose; 011 218 4000

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