In a sporting world of wasted budgets and overpaid administrators, those at the coalface continue to fight against the odds.
Few opportunities can be created without funding, but the Roodepoort Sports Academy (RSA) is running on hopes, dreams and belief. The football field on the Hinda Street extremity of Voortrekker Park is their home, and a fundraiser was held on 27 March to remind the community of the multi-faceted organisation’s vision and purpose. Football may be their core offering, but every aspect of childhood development is covered by the club’s manifesto.
“Our aim is to create disciplined, well-rounded individuals that can contribute to society at an older age,” said head coach, Thabo Radebe. Players are pulled predominantly from nearby informal settlements, making the social development aspects of RSA’s work doubly important. The club acts as an holistic after-school programme that includes a reading club, chess lessons and a swimming programme, when not restricted by government health interventions.
Hoping to be RSA’s guardian angel is Thy Will Be Done NPO, headed by Roodepoort resident Zakkiyah Raymon. “Lets make sure we get back to basics because it really does take a village. When there is a gap left by one parent there needs to be more of us to step in. We can’t let the drug dealers be the role models, it should be the soccer coach or the chess coach,” said Zakkiyah, who has been involved in charity work for 17 years, primarily in the Lenasia area.
Activities at the fundraising event, which asked a negligible R5 entry or the donation of any sports equipment, included a jumping castle and of course plenty of exhibition football matches. The grand aim of the academy and the fledgling NPO is to revitalise their section of the Exner Street sports precinct as well as the dilapidated netball court into a hub of youth development. As Zakkiyah summed up, “We need to get the kids off the streets and onto the field”.
