How soccer is fostering safety and unity in our communities
Tauhir du Preez controls the ball during an impromptu street soccer match organised by Balls Not Guns members in Suurbos Street, in Manenberg, on Saturday. The organisation's inaugural street soccer will kick off later this month.
Image: Fuad Esack
"We believe sport is a platform for deactivating the violence in our communities."
These are the powerful words echoed by community activist and Balls Not Guns founder-member, Gloria Veale.
In a community plagued by the sound of gunfire and gang violence, a simple yet powerful goal — to create a safe space for children to simply be children, is gaining momentum with the Balls Not Guns inaugural street soccer league due to kick off in Manenberg at the end of the month. The league will cater for juniors from under-8 to under-14.
The launch of the league will be announced once all role players have been consulted, Veale explained.
The idea, first mooted nearly a decade ago in 2016, was officially launched in 2018 at Phoenix High School, she said.
The upcoming street soccer league is a continuation of efforts to show that sport really can make a difference, she said, echoing words once famously said by former president Nelson Mandela at the inaugural Laureus World Sports Awards in Monaco in 2000.
The aim is to create a safe space for children to play without the fear of bullets flying over their heads, says Ball Not Guns, organisers of an upcoming street soccer league in Manenberg. Pictured here is goalkeeper Nayaan de Bryn claiming possession of the ball.
Image: Fuad Esack
“We believe sport is a platform for deactivating the violence in our communities, building unity and teaching our kids a peaceful way of expression,” she said.
Veale, who calls herself, rather aptly, ”vision bearer of balls,” said the initiative involves a partnership with Safa Cape Town and other community-based initiatives, and that they are in the process of engaging the City of Cape Town and law enforcement agencies.
Fellow Balls Not Guns member, Deirdre Richards said: “Our kids have been traumatised living on the Cape Flats, caught between these gangs that hold our communities hostage,” she said. So the “ball is the tool to help bring peace, caring sharing and togetherness, which is often lacking, she said. in our households,” she said.
Balls Not Guns'Deidre Richards during Saturday's street soccer action in Suurbos Street.
Image: Fuad Esack
Balls Not Guns co-ordinator Azme Hendricks, a teacher at Phoenix High, said the long-term vision is to keep the Balls Not Guns initiative going and encouraged residents and organisations to get involved.
Head co-ordinator, André Wessels, roped in by Hendricks to assist with logistics, said the aim is to have a child-safe community and that all may have a ball and not a gun.
Under-8 and under-10 coach, Mogamat Shahied Jack, is hopeful the programme will have an impact beyond soccer. It is for our community to see that we need each other to make this programme work,” he said.
“We have approached a few sponsors and hope we don't get disappointed,” he said. If you'd like to join, help, or for more information, call 079 389 2692.
Balls Not Guns members, from left, Andre Wessels, Zubair Abdoll, Azme Hendricks, Shahied jack and Amiena Bright sharea light moment during Saturday's street soccer action in Suurbos Street.
Image: Fuad Esack
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