High schools cluster athletics championships
Much more effort from schools and athletes is required. We want to thank principals for allowing educators to be present at the event in an official capacity.
The high schools in our area had their inter-high also known as Cluster Athletics Championship for the year on February 12. According to sports master at Westbury Secondary and chairperson of the central high schools, Gino Williams, the cluster athletics was to choose the team to compete in the district.
Schools that were involved are Westbury Secondary, Coronationville Secondary, Johannesburg Secondary, New Nation, Boipelo Iloilo, Riverlea Secondary, St. Barnabas College, and Noordgesig Secondary School.
“We have more secondary schools in our cluster but these are the schools that chose to participate. This championship was planned for February 6, but we postponed it due to the untimely and sad loss of the three educators from Riverlea.
“Overall, the day went well and, we, as a cluster, want to thank Vorentoe Hoërskool for allowing us to use their facility as there currently are no facilities available in our community. In the past years, schools gathered in their numbers at the Union Stadium behind the Sophiatown Police Station but due to neglect, the stadium has not been available.
“This is a great loss to all schools, primary as well as secondary schools alike, it was a hub where the community could come and support kids and encourage participation. It used to be days of great pride. Since we lost the use of the stadium, our sports have been negatively affected, due to us using a school facility, no spectators or supporters are allowed and it dampens the sport and the atmosphere. We are eternally grateful though for the opportunity to use the facility,” Williams shared.
The chairman added that all athletes did exceptionally well, however, they did notice that athletes are unfit because the athletics in most previously disadvantaged schools is a once-off event. “Athletes pulled stiff and seemed ill-prepared for the events.
Much more effort from schools and athletes is required. We want to thank principals for allowing educators to be present at the event in an official capacity. The athletics depend highly on officials and principals were requested to release five officials per school, thus we want to thank our principals for complying with the request. We also had members from the Sports and Recreation Department assisting us.
They constantly fall in and we are grateful for all their expertise and help. We had some difficulty in our requirements for equipment and had to run around, officials, however, became very creative with the limited resources,” added Williams.
When asked why he thinks sports is so important at schools, Williams concluded by saying: “I think sports teach discipline to kids and it caters for learners that might not be academically strong. Sport also gives learners the opportunity to leave their frustrations on the field of play. It’s an escape from the harsh reality that some of them face daily.”
“They gain methods of coping with their anger and frustration, sport exposes learners to a different world and connects educators and learners on a different level. It is amazing the bridges that can be crossed during sport compared to the classroom, it gives educators a different perspective of learners and some learners are exposed to the potential they were unaware that they possessed.”
“It teaches social skills, teaches sportsmanship and positive competition. It helps learners set goals and helps them become go-getters. It is essential to the growth of every child and learner.”
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