Learners at schools in Mitchell’s Plain will soon give adults a run for their money in darts – a growing and popular sport in the area.
Charles Gelderblom, together with Alister Porthen, is spearheading this initiative. Porthen was appointed as the development officer of the Mitchell’s Plain Recreation Association four years ago.
Gelderblom, who has more than 40 years of experience as a darts player, is the transformation and development officer for Western Cape Darts Federation and Cape Town Darts.
“I have a great passion for the sport and, together with Alister Porthen, we started with the groundwork and development of the project at school level.”
Primary schools currently part of the league are Cascade, Cornflower, Parkhurst, Westville, Beacon Valley, AZ Berman, Yellowood and Mitchell’s Heights.
Gelderblom, who is also a life member of Mitchell’s Plain Recreation Association, says they use a variety of given methodologies. But he says, in the past, it seemed like it was to no avail. It was then decided to select a development officer for the association to plan the way forward.
Following Porthen’s appointment, meetings with schools were set up and provincial meetings were attended to create a platform where schools could be entered in a competition.
Gelderblom says they put pen to paper and created a booklet called 180+.
“Porthen is the director of the school league and it is registered under his name. We used Mitchell’s Plain as a pilot project and besides teaching the learners how to play darts, we also do skills development and orientation. The participation of the learners in the school league made a difference in their mathematics skills,” he says.
He hopes to start with the darts league at the schools early next year.
