NPC hands over hockey equipment to schools in Ikageng

Non-profit company, Sport Is Life Movement (SILM) officially handed over 50 modified hockey sticks to three schools in Ikageng.

According to Mthokozo Mbotho, SILM Deputy Chairperson, the South African Hockey Association (SAHA) has a modified hockey program that promotes sport participation especially in townships and rural areas, therefore, with the help of the association, SILM acquired 50 hockey sticks that were shared amongst the schools.

Keagile Primary received 15 sticks and balls as well as 10 cones, Dan Tloome Primary received 20 sticks and balls as well as 10 cones, and Pudulugo Primary received 15 sticks and balls with 10 cones.
“The highlight of the handover was the enthusiasm of the learners when we arrived to drop off the equipment as well as the teachers’ interest to start and facilitate hockey as a sport in their school.,” Mbotho said.

Mbotho added that since they are a newly established NPC, they are still taking things one month at a time, despite their optimistic goals. “This is not a fast process and we hope to develop consistency within schools to run the programs independently and eventually be able to create a culture of sport in their respective schools,” he said.

“We also hope to have a development league which in turn will help with early Talent Identification for our province, which will have more township schools involved in the local leagues with an integration to the provincial prestigious leagues,” he added.

Mbotho noted that another main goal SILM has to achieve is the activation of the sport’s teaching and participation interest in the various township schools and to get teachers involved in being the coaches. “We are students that drive this initiative so we can’t always be at sessions,” he explained. “The key to this being a success lies amongst the teachers’ involvement and ensuring that the learners partake in sessions consistently,” he concluded.