Off the Streets & on the field
September 22nd, 2008 | Published in This Week
Written by Bogekile Mhlanga
The communities around Acornhoek are doing something positive amid all the chaos. Soccer teams are spreading positive thinking and living by getting youth off the streets and elevating poverty.
White Hill, a soccer team in Tintswalo Village, started in 1981. Their funds come from the whole community: men and women, old and young. Many give money from their own pockets because they wanted to see the team reach new heights, not get blocked because of monetary issues.
White Hill is not the only team in Tintswalo Village; there are three others: Juventus, Arsenal and Swastik. These teams meet with teams from different communities, such as Okthula, Madrid, All Blacks and Burkina Faso, for tournaments every weekend.
The competitions draw large crowds, but these kinds of competitions provide more than entertainment. A lot of local people make a living by selling soft drinks, beer, fruit and snacks. One woman, who sells products like oranges, vetkoeks and soft drinks at tournaments, said, “Usually these tournaments are more crowded than today, and I make a lot of money by just selling loose cigarettes.”
In addition, Alfred Hlongwane, the Chairperson of the Ward Nine soccer tournament, believes that with soccer, “a lot of naughty young men don’t have time for their criminal activities.” He believes that by the time the tournament ends, the youngsters who like to rob are tired and don’t have the strength to commit crimes. The games also bring people together. The players get to practice their skills, show off their talent, and exchange ideas with other players. Neighbors gather and cheer together.
To participate, each team contributes R135, which goes to the prize money for the first and second teams and to paying referees for their services. An organization, called Global Community Rising, has sponsored a prize of soccer jerseys worth R5000 for the year’s overall winner. The prize increases the spirit of competition because all the local teams would love to have new jerseys. According to the committee, the local municipality does not contribute towards their efforts and events, which is why the teams must rely mostly on donations. “We hope that one day the municipality will recognize our efforts of creating a crime-free and poverty-free Acornhoek,” said Hlongwane.
On 2 August, the weekly tournaments started. The teams that win on Saturday play on Sunday. On 3 August, the weather was grey, windy and very cold, but this didn’t dampen the spirits of the teams whose main purpose was to win R530. This money helps the victors maintain their club, and the surplus is saved for the team’s future expenses. The team that got the prize money on 3 August was White Hill, which won on penalty shootouts against Arsenal. The dream is to see one of the teams in ward nine playing for Castle Lite. “That would make us very proud because all our hard work, determination and sacrifices would have paid off,” Hlongwane concluded.
