Northern Cape’s Sporting Talent Pleads for Better Infrastructure

Northern Cape

The community of Siyathemba is a very close-knit community invested in sports. They have a pool of sporting talent which includes a variety of sports from Soccer to Rugby to Netball.

The Siyathemba municipality is divided into three towns, Prieska, Marydale and Niekerkshoop. There are two rugby teams, namely Prieska-dorp and Rivertons, with the former based in the rural area and the latter based in the more upper-class area.

The region has various netball teams. This includes one in Prieksa-dorp, two in Marydale, one in Niekerkshoop and one in a rural farming area of Remhoogte.

While rugby and netball are a big part of youth development, it is soccer that the community finds most appealing.

Soccer has played an integral part in keeping the youth of the streets and helping with growing self-confidence and empowering young people with a positive mindset. Siayehemba has 28 soccer teams out of the 56 in the region.

Mr. Ben Monakali, Siyathemba resident and a person who is heavily involved in sport has stated that several players come from outside provinces such as the Free State and Northwest and they are thus not registered in the Northern Cape’s regional soccer leagues.

Mr. Monakali also indicated that there is a lack of infrastructure in the region, with only one pitch available to play on. Infrastructure is fundamental to the improvement and development of youth as it can affect your performances and control your style of play.

The pitch can also contribute to injuries to the players. Mr. Monakali added that they don’t have access to a lot of sponsors with businesses only sponsoring rugby and golf. There is also a struggle with equipment as the kids don’t have the right boots, kits and headgear for the sporting codes.

We hope that the region’s youth will be provided with quality infrastructure in order for them to continue playing the sports they love.