ISIPINGO Sports against Crime (ISAC) is making significant strides within the community by using sports as a means to positively impact the lives of children.
Their motto, ‘A child in sport is a child out of court’, underscores their dedication to steering youngsters away from negative influences.
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President of ISAC, Beaver Shanmogum, said that since it was founded in 2021 by a group of determined youth in response to the vulnerability of local children, the sports organisation has evolved into a force for positive change.
“With 150 children of diverse backgrounds participating in junior football, and around 100 seniors, our first year was just trial and error but proved to be a huge success. As the cherry on top, we held our own miniature World Cup in tandem with the FIFA World Cup. Our stringent guidelines for the junior team managers and coaches stated that a child who performs poorly in school or behaves disrespectfully at home is not permitted to play. We therefore needed to establish a balance between discipline at home, at school and on the field of play. This system was helping not just our younger children but also our adults, who were gradually kicking bad habits and becoming well-mannered, responsible men at home and in the community,” he said.
In a significant development this year, the organisation transitioned from a rebel league to a South African Football Association (SAFA), now known as SAFA/ISAC.
The organisation goes beyond the field as it also provides meals and support to uplift the talents of aspiring soccer players, especially those from low-income families. Shanmogum added that young people can acquire many positive values through sports, like devotion, loyalty and respect for others.
“The children concentrated on honing their football talents throughout the football tournaments and learning about fair play, both on and off the pitch. They also learned about the negative effects of drugs on individuals and sports,” he said.
Early next year, about 600 children will be presented with medals and other awards at SAFA/ISAC’s annual event. They will also be given meals and other treats to celebrate their achievements.
For more information or to find out how you can assist, contact Beaver Shanmogum on 071 456 0008, Sumesh Naicker on 083 792 7936 or Annalize Pillai on 068 053 8690.
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