Using sport to tackle youth crime

UNABLE to afford a soccer ball as a child, Norman Nkosi would collect discarded plastic packets and roll them together to make a ball.

Norman was inspired by Bafana Bafana’s all-time top-scorer, Benni McCarthy, and his parents found it impossible to keep him away from the soccer ground.

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“Even when I underwent an operation in grade two, the day I was discharged, I was back on the grounds playing soccer with my friends. My mother was so angry, because I could have opened up my stitches, that she really gave me a hiding that day,” laughs Norman. “…but it didn’t keep me from running off to play soccer again the next day. We were passionate about the sport and, through it, my friends and I learned team work, fair play and discipline.”

Today, Norman is employed as a prison warden at Ncome Correctional Services, and working with criminals first hand, he sees the importance of promoting sport among the youth now more than ever.

“Working with criminals, it is clear to me that, if the youth in the community are to be steered along the right path, away from crime and antisocial behaviour, they need positive mentors and they need to be engaged in activities that promote positive values,” explains Norman.

“Playing a sport, like soccer, can prevent boredom, teach important life skills, divert young people from crime, and foster social inclusion. I believe that it can be an effective way of stopping young people from falling into crime.”

Attesting to Norman’s beliefs, stats released by the ‘Kids Play USA Foundation’ show that adolescents who don’t have adult supervision at least three days a week are twice as likely to hang out with gang members and three times as likely to be engaged in criminal behaviour.

Pan-African research company, Afrobarometer, released a survey last year that indicated that about 70% of South Africa’s 20 million young people are more likely to be victims and perpetrators of assault, robbery and property theft than adults.

Responding to the crime crisis that Norman has observed, both as a prison warden and as a South African citizen, he has established a soccer team in his community, Flyers Football Club.

“I am a person who loves the sport and loves to develop this talent in the youth. What better way to make a difference in the community?” says Norman.

Norman spends roughly R2 000 a month out of his own pocket to transport members of his team to matches and to cover various other expenses such as airtime and snacks, etc. He is grateful to Mr Hoosen from TFS for sponsoring kits for the team, and urges other members of the community to assist in any way they can.

“We don’t want money, but there are other things that we need that could really help boost team morale, like soccer boots, shin guards, reflectors, water bottles, a medical aid kit… The list is endless. Children sitting in front of the television are watching action movies, which often promote violence and killing. Let’s involve them in sport instead. It is a great way to build relationships, be active and encourage you to achieve your goals, even in other areas of your life.

“If we do well in the local leagues and are promoted to play in the SAB league, who knows, we may be able to give our kids a platform to demonstrate their talent for the national team,” concludes Norman.

Contact Norman on 078 279 8184 should you wish to offer assistance to the Flyers Football Club.