With hundreds of athletes drawn from the Umsobomvu district converging on the Colesberg Stadium for this year’s schools athletics meet, this was always fated to be more than a worthy contender for Event of the Year. From the barefoot, barely-waist high u7s right up to the buff u19s all swag in running spikes, the battle lines were drawn deep in the sandy track. In merry droves, parents, teachers, siblings and learners turned the town’s characteristic serenity into cheerful mayhem as they lumbered up to the venue.
Similar scenes had unfolded in the preliminary stages last week, but with schools from neighbouring towns set to showcase their best talent, spectators would be indulged to a highly thrilling engagement.
The stands teeming, officials shuffling about like they were no more than grown up kids themselves, the organising was “all hands on deck” personified. Javelins soared high in the air, shotput balls landed with a thud, pounding dents into the lush grass as the multidisciplinarity of athletics clearly had a spot for any child prepared to put in the necessary training.
And train hard they had. At around 5am, and again at dusk, the untarred causeways of Kuyasa were all too familiar with a certain Odwa Matiwana’s jogging footfalls. Standing at 1.6m, with a slight frame, one hardly expected that this would be the Umso High student clocking in the fastest time in the u17 200m dash. His coach, Jeffrey Mkrola, would’ve been chuffed at how their limited training sessions had culminated in such a dazzling outcome.
Umso educator Mfundo Sakati who also wears the hats of “sports administrator and [is] also hands-on from a technical side” was generally pleased of his charges. “Sport,” he says, “is a passion to me and when kids show enthusiasm in wanting to do something, I always try to be there.”
Endinako Fuzani of Colesberg Combined School brought the house down. The speedster, only 7 years old, legs whirling beneath him posted the fastest time in his age group – 10.54 in the 60m sprint. A confident Motsoane Thoote from Umthombo Wolwazi was all smiles about his second placing in the u15 shotput having thrown a distance of 9.49m. The school’s sports director Rene Botha said, “the children did well, everything was well-organised and the team organisers ran a tight ship.” Educator and trainer Charles Gavaza enthusiastically seconded the sentiment.
With all said and done the stellar, arguably most sensational showing would come from Noupoort’s Bradley Koelman who ripped through the u19 100m sprint in a lightning speed of 11.88s. Koelman is now the circuit’s (comprised of Noupoort, Colesberg, Norvalspont, Richmond and Hanover) fastest learner and can look forward to being the district’s if he can pull off a similar theatre at the district finals to be held in Prieska this Friday. But many already have their sights firmly set on the provincials waiting to happen sometime in Kimberly.
Another noteworthy performance was that of a lanky Owama Matiwana (see featured image) from Noupoort’s Enoch Mthetho High who excelled in the u19 high jump, ultimately clearing 1.7m.
A Facebook post however noted with crying emojis how a group of Umso learners had had to rely on a single pair of running shoes/spikes to be rotated amongst them. The author of the post had been severely moved by this harrowing scene of such naked want and deprivation. How could these students hope to compete when the material odds were piled so high against them? Perhaps those who are able to pull strings and allay such indignity will rally to make sure that come next year these will be nothing but yesterday’s news.
As for Mampho Corner House Fish and Chips, the day was a boon. Usually trading at Riemvasmaak, today she gambled that the meet might see herself rolling in the dough. Well if her gleaming brow, empty fridges and relentless smile was anything to go on – she had played a fortuitous hand indeed.
Another insightful pleasure to read. Takes one into a world of sport and recreation organised for and among young folk of Umsobomvu area.