Just four months after hosting a successful Sports against Crime Tournament in Humansdorp, the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts, and Culture, and Community Safety have banded together again to host another tournament in Acadia, Humansdorp, with exciting plans to host the initiative in Hankey and Jeffreys Bay soon.
As previously reported by Kouga Express, the tournament aimed at encouraging young people in Humansdorp to avoid crime and gang violence.
Familiar with the increase in crime and violence in Acadia, the chairperson of the Sarah Baartman District Community Police Forum (CPF), Mieta Williams-Jan, said they hosted their second awareness campaign in the area on June 22, with various roleplayers involved, including the CPF, South African Police Services, Department of Community Safety, Kouga Municipality, Score, Kouga Football Association, and Kouga Netball Federation.
Williams-Jan said the initiative was similar to the event hosted in February at Humansdorp Sport Field, where young soccer enthusiasts enjoyed a day filled with thrilling soccer matches and, most importantly, were educated about the dangers of crime, drug and alcohol abuse, and gangsterism.
While the previous event catered for young soccer players, during their most recent tournament they also welcomed various netball clubs.
“The outcome was very positive, and we received good feedback from the organisations involved,” said Williams-Jan.
Mongezi Khatshiwe, the local executive officer of the South African National Football Association, thanked the roleplayers who initiated the awareness campaign.
He said the football association generally focuses on the development of young players, since these age groups often face many challenges.
Khatshiwe said he was appreciative of the messages shared with the young people at the event, which he believes will have a great influence on them.
“The presentation given on soccer was professionally done, and it was excellent. We showed people that we are the custodians of football and that we love what we are doing,” said Khatshiwe.
Overall, he said the event was a great success and that there was healthy competition by the soccer and netball players.
“I want to thank everyone who was part of the event, whether they were a competitor, fan, or sponsor,” said Khatshiwe.
Nicquin Brown, chairperson of Kouga Netball Association also thanked the event organisers for including netball in the recent awareness campaign.
“The aim of the awareness campaign served its purpose, and it was a success,” said Brown.
She further said that regardless of people’s differences and the struggles they face, sport brings the community together, to allow them to understand and respect each other.
“We are looking forward to more opportunities being created to uplift the youth and bring change in our communities,” said Brown.
Williams-Jan said they are looking forward to hosting their next awareness campaign in Hankey in September, and in Jeffreys Bay in February 2025.
“We have more stakeholders involved in the campaign and we therefore plan to expand to other areas,” said Williams-Jan.
The top three soccer stars were:
- Mini Stars – first place
- Black Vultures – second place
- City Pirates – third place
- The top three netball stars were:
- Poison Ivy – first place
- Royal Stars – second place
- City All Stars – third place
