Zukile Majova
There is barely a single blade of grass in the soccer and netball fields at Mbizeni village outside Matatiele.
The lines that define the grounds are marked with white lime on the red soil.
There are no resources of any kind – no water, no stands for the fans and no shade or any protection from the elements.
If you really need to go to the loo, you hike up the valley to use a pit toilet at one of the nearest homes.
But in sweltering heat, hundreds of young people descended to the valley in Mbizeni village to celebrate Heritage Day through sport.
This weekend nineteen soccer teams and 10 netball teams entertained the crowds in 35-degree heat.
All this with no government help or sponsorship.
The organisers say the only thing they want from the government is a decent gravel road for visitors to access the village.
Founder of the tournament Mzo Mbulawa said he founded the Mbizeni Sports Festival to save young people from despondency and alcohol abuse.
“I was tired of seeing young people in the village giving up on life and drinking too much.
“Even talented guys in these villages know their soccer talent will never go anywhere beyond this valley.
“There has been so much teenage pregnancy and young men getting into crime and gangsterism around Matatiele,” Mbulawa said.
On the eve of the local government elections, many political parties missed an opportunity to recruit these young people.
But then many young people who spoke to us said they wouldn’t have gone to the festival if political parties and the municipality were invited.
They feel that politicians tend to turn any event – funerals included – into a rally, stripping the occasion of its dignity.
Matatiele Netball Club won the netball competition, earning themselves a trophy, R2 000, a netball kit, 18 gold medals and a ball.
Matatiele City won the soccer tournament and walked away with a trophy, R5,000, a soccer kit and a soccer ball.
Mbulawa says without much sponsorship, the tournament does not offer much to the youths but “what we offer them is hope”.
And in these parts, keeping young dreams alive is a priceless contribution to the community.
