Just as the proverbial baobab tree stands firm against all elements, Baobab Athletics Club in Mohlakeng stood firm against strong competition.
Oefentse Ntibane, Baobab chairperson accepted the club’s Gauteng Premier’s Service Excellence Award at a gala event hosted at Sunnyside Hotel recently.
The club has beaten nominees such as the Arnold Sport Festival Africa, which secured the second spot, while Diski Nine9 – a Soweto-based community soccer project – came third.
“When the MC took the mic to declare Baobab as winners of the Social Transformation Award in the Sports and Recreation sub-category, I was completely over the moon with joy,” said Oefentse.
He added that the award was relevant. “Our club is for youth and teens mostly from disadvantaged backgrounds who are faced with many societal challenges like substance abuse. It is through the sport of athletics that we can live up to the ideal of taking young people away from such challenges,” he said.
Adding another feather to his cap, Ofentse has been elected as a member of the Central Gauteng Athletics Track and Field Commission and vice-chairperson of the CGA Coaches Committee. “With this achievement the plan is now to take matters to another level by way of establishing the Goodwilll Foundation and undertaking a national tour to create awareness about several social challenges that affect the region,” he added.
Boabab will host the CGA Cross Country League event on 7 July. “We do have plans to host other events but this will only happen with the assistance of sponsorships and donations. Anyone willing to come on board can contact us on 074 5267739,” Ofentse concluded.
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