Involving over 100 boys and girls under the age of 13, together with empowering local coaches street sports is all about using sport as the vehicle to promote good life choices and value to inspire the future of young children.
The streets of Ocean View turn into a positive space every Friday afternoon in association with Sporting Chance, Sportsmans Warehouse, the City of Cape Town and the National Lotteries Commission.
Shirley Botes, co-ordinator of the programme at Sporting Chance, said Ocean View learners are very talented.
“I have been doing this for 14 years in the community under the wing of Sporting Chance.
This is the first year that Ocean View is having the full-on street sports of netball, cricket and soccer all at once.
“In the past, it was only soccer but the talent is amazing.”
She added that the programme is aimed at primary school children between the ages of 10 and 13.
“My job is to go to the primary schools and then make up the teams that cater equally to girls and boys.
“In a cricket team of six, players must always have two girls on the team and that makes it more interesting and exciting.”
For the learners it is all about the excitement and fun, says Botes.
“It is all about enjoyment. At the moment they are writing exams, kids also come from different environments at home.”
While activities were on pause during covid the activities are back in full swing as Sporting Chance Street Sports is back every Friday.
Teams have taken to the tar-like pitches to compete in the specially adapted versions of cricket, netball and soccer.
“You have a variety of sports for the children. netball, soccer and cricket and there are three regions, Ocean View, Langa and Khayelitsha.
“We also make sure they have something to eat.
It is about the joy and expression, the kids can’t wait because they have something to go to on a Friday afternoon and it is something positive.”
