The streets of Langa were abuzz when teams from disadvantaged communities around greater Cape Town competed for the coveted Sporting Chance Street Sports Champions’ Trophy on Friday 1st December.
For the past seven weeks, hundreds of young learners from Masiphumelele, Khayelitsha and Langa have taken to the streets, to compete in matches covering two sports codes – cricket and soccer.
The Sporting Chance Street Sports Programme, in partnership with the African Impact Foundation, Nussbaum and Bitove Foundations and SuperSport Let’s Play with product supplied by Food Lovers Market has proven to be extremely popular with all involved. It has provided a much needed ‘after school’ activity for the children and it is the perfect opportunity for the sport mad children to experience a unique and fun adaption of conventional cricket and soccer.
The streets of the communities are a great place in which to display ones skills without having to travel too far and the talent and flair is in abundance. Spectators line the streets with every ball kicked or bowled and it’s encouraging to see the children embracing the opportunity to entertain their community.
Local schools and sports organisations, in association with Sporting Chance, organise children under 12 years of age into street teams of six. At least two members of each team must be girls and all must have attended school throughout the year prior to the start of the tournament – all part of Sporting Chance’s philosophy of getting as many children irrespective of race, gender or social class, away from negative influences and into the sporting environment.
The Street Sports Programme introduces the children to an active lifestyle and aims to provide them with healthy alternatives to drugs and crime. The Street Cricket component forms part of Cricket South Africa’s cricket pipeline and it’s exciting to present a platform that allows for raw and natural talent to be identified and nurtured.
The atmosphere in Langa for the finals was terrific with radio partner Magic 828am bringing their extra magic and Patrick and his Sounds Awesome rig ensuring there were good beats to bat and kick to. The African Impact volunteers were there in full force and their exceptional cheerleading efforts made it extra festive.
The matches were played in a competitive yet friendly spirit and at the end of a good afternoon of quality cricket and soccer it was the team from Masiphumelele taking the Street Soccer title and Khayelitsha taking the Street Cricket!
Thanks to all our partners for making the programme possible!
