The interactive format of the road show sessions have been well received by the participants and the messaging focussing on physical
activity, nutrition, health awareness and general fitness has been absorbed by the eager children.

The Sporting Chance team together with Kellogg’s dieticians have visited the communities of Ocean View, Elsies River, Gugulethu, Langa, Manenberg, Masiphumelele , Mitchell’s Plain, Grassy Park and will finish off in Macassar this afternoon.

The 2011 Kellogg’s Health of the Nation project in association with SuperSport Let’s Play, Virgin Active and KIA Motors with radio partners Good Hope fm, is a Four Phase programme that highlights the importance of physical activity and leading a healthy lifestyle.

Phase 1: the Health Education road show has ensured the children are well prepared to take part in Phase 2: the Kellogg’s Health of the Nation: 50 hour sports challenge and Phase 3: the Research Testing (Phase 3) this coming weekend at WPCC Sports Centre.

Look forward to seeing you there…

KELLOGG’S HEALTH OF THE NATION: 50 HOUR SPORTS CHALLENGE

14h00, Friday 16^th to 16h00, Sunday 18^th September 2011

WPCC Sports Centre, Rondebosch

On 15 April, Sporting Chance, in association with title sponsors KIA Motors and associates Food zone, Dawn Wing and Supersport Let’s Play, will roll out the national neighbourhood street soccer programme that will reach 4500 boys and girls under the age of 13, empowering them to grab onto a brighter future through the valuable lessons of sport.

Designed and co-ordinated by youth sports development agency Sporting Chance, the Kia Street Soccer programme, supported by FIFA and SAFA, brings soccer directly to the kids who need it most and where they need it most.  The communities in the 30 regions are rife with poverty and crime, lacking in adequate facilities or stimulating after-school and weekend activities.

“The street is the perfect venue for kids to come together and do something positive and healthy,” says Brad Bing, Managing Director of Sporting Chance.  “Many of them have no place to go where they can socialize in a safe and healthy environment.  Why not turn the streets we have for too long perceived as being dangerous, into a stage where life lessons can be taught, friendships forged and communities entertained?”

Kia Street Soccer will hit neighbourhood streets with round robin matches in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth and Durban.  Twenty teams of six players each are entered into each regional league.  Round robin matches will be played for eight weeks, with weekly sessions of four matches, followed by a week of regional finals and ultimately, the Provincial Festival Finale, which takes place towards the end of June.

Keeping healthy is another critical life skill taught by the programme. For the first phase of the programme a Health Education Road Show visited all the participating communities leading up to the second phase – the start of the  league. In addition to activities designed to show and share the importance of physical activity, nutrition, personal hygiene and TB awareness, the sessions also covered key issues of sports etiquette, conflict resolution, and environmental awareness, encouraging learners to take pride in their environment and recycle, not litter.

It isn’t only the kids who will benefit from this programme, says Bing.  Local coaches and coordinators will be selected from each community and will receive training in coaching and crucial life skills. 

“The 2010 Soccer World Cup must be more than a pleasant memory for South Africans,” said Kia Motors South Africa CEO Ray Levin.  “It must leave a lasting legacy of promise, showing all South Africans that dreams can come true, even for the poorest.  This is the time to grab the excitement generated by Bafana Bafana and carry it through to grass roots level.”

Programme organiser Bing concurs. “Sport is such a powerful catalyst in this country.  It truly has the power to transform lives.  Now is the time to capitalise on 2010’s soccer madness.”

After Elsies I headed to the township of Nyanga where the talent was in abundance as their coaches have insisted on extra training for their teams once a week. Nyanga Street Cricket is coordinated by the passionate Mxo Tywaku who has organized a fantastic league with they help from his dedicated coaches. Nyanga are playing hard to keep the Street Cricket Trophy which they won convincingly last year. With new young talent that is coming through I reckon they will field a great team in the finals in Langa.

I have received great feedback from all coordinators in each region. Cyril Pelston the coordinator in Manenberg informed me” After three weeks of street cricket matches, there is so much excitement in the Manenberg community. Street cricket has become part of the culture of our community and helps to add value and growth in communities”.

I wish all the teams luck for the upcoming week and look forward to some more Street Cricket this Friday.

 This is the second year Masiphumelele has been involved in the Annual Street Cricket league and the atmosphere was something not to be missed. Those not participating were lining the streets cheering the teams on, the coaches were filled with enthusiasm and support for the children and the cricket talent was in abundance.

After Masiphumelele I headed out to Ocean View were the Streets were covered with children in yellow t-shirts all excited at the prospects that their team could join the other regions at the Street Cricket Final in Langa. It was great to see the support from the community and the resident DJ playing some great tunes to keep the spirits high.

The co-ordinators in the other regions assured me that week 2 went well and that the competition is hotting up. I look forward to week 3 in the various regions and wish all the teams luck in the upcoming week.

For more detailed information on each regions league please don’t hesitate to contact Sporting Chance. 021 683 7299