Benoni Northerns Sports Club recently turned a page in its history books.
This is after Emma da Silva, previously chairperson of athletics at Northerns, has been named as the first female chairperson of the club.
“I am so excited. It’s an opportunity that I hope to hold close to my heart – and give it everything I have got!” said da Silva.
“A strong part of Northerns is the community and the spirit.
“We are a team of like-minded individuals who are not only here to participate in sports, but to support the community.
“Each sporting code is always looking at ways to incorporate the local community – organising friendly matches, supporting teams from different communities and sharing training tips from our coaches.
“However, over and above this, we also like to give generously by hosting fund-raisers and supporting local charities at every opportunity we get.
“To be the chairperson is going to be a challenge, but one that I welcome with open arms.”
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Active
Da Silva was and still is a very active person when it comes to her sports, starting early in her school days.
“I was a very active sports person, participating mainly athletics and netball,” she explained.
“When it came to athletics, I competed in the short distance categories, such as the 100m and 200m sprints.”
The culmination of her school sports career led da Silva to being honoured with the Victrix Ludorum trophy in her final year of high school, at her matric valedictory service.
After school, da Silva gave up athletics and concentrated on action netball, which she played for many years.
However, after suffering a few ankle injuries in 2008 she decided it was time to call it quits.
She relocated from Durban to Benoni 20 years ago.
“I joined BNAC in June 2009 after being in Durban for the Comrades weekend,” da Silva explained.
“I decided it was time to stop dreaming about running the Comrades Marathon and actually run the race, and so began my journey at Northerns.
“My first Comrades was in 2010 and I have since finished seven more.
“The plan is to reach my green number.”
After joining the athletics committee at Northerns in 2011, da Silva has held many positions, including 2011 assistant race organiser, 2012 vice chair/assistant race organiser and 2013/2014 chairperson of athletics.
She was nominated to join the main committee during 2015 and served as a member of the executive committee for the last five years, as vice chairperson for the past three years.
Covid-19
With the restrictions lifting, da Silva provides some advice to all the Benonians out there who just want to get back to their sport and hobbies.
“The clubs understand their frustration. Just because we were hard hit with the virus and there is so much negativity flying around, it does not mean everything is over.
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“We should not just give up.
“There are so many different ways that we can approach this situation.
“We have been given the opportunity to face the obstacles put in front of us with the same enthusiasm that we have while playing a sport – it is really the only way to look at things.
“We will face some challenges, but as a team, be it on the sports field or in an office, each player has the skill and the ability to navigate the ‘game’ of Covid-19 and the ensuring of all rules and regulations.
“Dare I say it, but I see the government as the referee – which we have all at some point disagreed with. However, we have to face the referee head on, accept the call that was made and ensure that we play fair and win.”
“And win we shall. We will come out stronger and see that sport and Benoni Northerns be once again back to normal and victorious.”
