Laerskool Kruinsig hosts successful Suzuki Kruinie sport festival

Laerskool Kruinsig successfully hosted its first Suzuki Kruinie Sport Fees on October 5, drawing excitement from parents, learners, and teachers throughout the day.

The event featured fast five netball and seven-a-side rugby, providing a dynamic environment for both boys and girls to showcase their skills.

The event organiser, Mark Strydom, explained the primary goal of the tournament was to create a safe space for young athletes to engage in sports, while also allowing coaches to focus on player development during the off-season.

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“This helps the players to be prepared when the official rugby and netball seasons start,” Strydom said.

Looking ahead, Strydom shared plans to make the tournament an annual tradition.

“We want to foster a love for the game. Participating in team sports like netball and rugby teaches children essential skills, particularly teamwork,” he added.

“We teach them to rely on each other, celebrate victories and support one another when the team faces challenges. Their ball skills also improve with each match, which they carry to future sporting events.”

One of the highlights, according to Strydom, was the opportunity to build new friendships with other schools and their players.

“It is fantastic to host an event that brings our community together,” he said.

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While other schools also host seven-a-side tournaments, Strydom noted they are not officially linked.

“We only host this event once a year and other schools also run tournaments,” he explained.

This year’s tournament featured 14 schools from Thabazimbi, Pretoria, Boksburg, and Kempton Park.

Participating schools included Kempton Park Full Service School, Laerskool Volkskool Heidelberg, Laerskool Birchleigh, Laerskool Concordia, Laerskool Edleen, Laerskool Hennopspark, Laerskool Kreft, Laerskool Louis Leipoldt, Laerskool Rynfield, Laerskool Thabazimbi, Laerskool Van Dyk Park, Laerskool Van Riebeeck Park, and Rynfield Primary.

Two local clubs, Buffels Indoor Arena and Benoni Northerns, also participated.

Strydom revealed the idea for the tournament came after struggling to find suitable events for their players to compete in during the October 4-5 period.

“When we realised there were not any tournaments available, we decided to organise our own,” he said.

According to Strydom, the dream of hosting this tournament had been in the works for years, but it took time for the school to take the plunge.

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“Our boys and girls train three times a week to stay sharp. Sports teach them the discipline needed to keep up with their schoolwork. A balanced life is crucial for any child,” he said.

“As coaches, we put in the hard work to help our players exceed their natural abilities. Our role is to unlock their potential,” Strydom added.

“We want to instil such a passion for the game that they show up for trials the next season. That’s when we know we’ve made a lasting impact.”