For Vuyisani Galada, playing organised sport means she can some day achieve her life-long dream of playing in the Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League.
Galada, 24, a finance, economics and accounting level three student at Ingwe TVET, said she always looked forward to playing in the Get Out and Play Sporting tournament.
The annual event, which takes place at Ntlavukazi on July 7 and 8, will treat residents of the area to top-class soccer, rugby, netball, hockey and indigenous games.
Galada, who is a goal defender for Home Girls who won last year’s netball tournament, said they were hoping to maintain their unbeaten run this year.
“We are the defending champs, so we need to make sure that we work hard enough to keep the title, but there’s a strong team which always gives us problems every time.
“They are called Peacemakers and they are really good at what they do, but we are going to prove to them that we are better,” said Galada.
Get Out and Play initiative coordinator and founder Marks Njovane said they were also hosting three Bidvest Wits development teams that would be participating in the soccer tournament.
He said the initiative was developed to bring organised sport to rural communities and to groom a better youth who could lead the country in the near future in all aspects.
“From my experiences, growing up in rural areas I never had a chance to play organised sport.
“But this initiative doesn’t only end there.
“In the past we’ve also organised skills transfer courses for referees, for example. And we have boys that have played in this tournament and will be going to the second stage of the trials at Golden Arrows next week.”
Njovane said the organisation’s mandate was not only based on sport, but on developing responsible citizens of the country.
“We want to help people that will play a leading role in the country, and lead a healthy lifestyle.
“The three teams that Bidvest Wits will send will be intrigued by our local players, because we have so much talent.
“And what’s encouraging is that if Wits scouts see potential, they will select those kids and take them into their academies.
“There they will attend the best schools and get to play top-level football,” he said.
Njovane added that they were striving to develop youth that would be free from the minimum wage, which is R3500 per month.
“We’ve always wanted a top performing university to partner with, and that’s what we are hoping to achieve with Wits.”
“We are already working close with the Eastern Cape Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture.”
He said the sporting event was bearing the desired fruits for the economy of small town Lusikisiki.
“One of the leading Bed and Breakfasts in Lusikisiki has been fully booked.
“The are 65 people who’ll be coming to the event and it’s not going to end there as our local street vendors will get more business.
“And we are continuing with the final touches of the event and everyone is welcome to come and see what we can offer.”..