Former Banyana Banyana player Makhosi Luthuli, SA U21 women’ rugby star Zinhle Ndawonde and South African netball vice-captain Precious Mthembu will all gather at the Thembeni Sports ground in KwaDukuza on Saturday 7 August, for the inaugural Million Dollar Player Centre of Excellence Open Day.
These women will be doing coaching clinics and also proving to the world the roles that women can play in sports dominated by mainly males. Ndawonde, Luthuli and Mthembu will be doing this as part of their way of giving back to the community and also celebrating the Women’s Month, by inspiring young kids to be involved in sports.
The centre is open to all children between five and 13 years of age, and the centre will allow the kids to gather twice a week after school, to receive proper training and valuable life skills programs.
Sporting codes that will be played in this centre includes cricket, rugby, netball and soccer.
This centre a first for the community, and has been launched by gsport 2009 Volunteer of the Year, the dynamic youngster, Lunga Ntuli, who received his acknowledgement from gsport Founder, Kass Naidoo, for his many efforts to promote women’s sports.
Despite his age, Ntuli is not a new comer in the world of sports as he holds a National Diploma in Sport Management and he also grew up in that community. Ntuli has also been involved with the KWANALOGA games for almost four years, and last year he helped team
“The whole reason why I have started this centre is simply because it really bothers me to see some of my friends being victim of alcohol abuse, teenage pregnancy, crime and dropping out of schools with out even reaching grade 12.
“I don’t have any money or something special but I certainly believe that sports can be used as a tool to teach children how to leave a better life and it can provide academic opportunities and become a career to others as well,” said Ntuli.
It will not be the first time since Ntuli will be doing such thing for his community as he was also the founder of the Nkobongo women’ cricket club which ended up producing provincial and district players.
He currently works for Sports Tech International Development sports Agency as a sports Facilitator and also runs a company called ALEBAG Sports and Skills Development. Ntuli was a recipient of the KZN Cricket Union Scholarship which took him to Umlazi Comtech.
“The sustainability of this program lies in the hands of the parents and the children themselves. This is not my centre but it belongs to the community of Thembeni. To maintain it each child will pay a minimal fee of R1 a day which is R30 a month to be part of this program. This is a way of teaching our kids to start saving at a tender age and investing in things that will better their lives,” said Ntuli.
Other National players that are expected to come on the open day and do coaching clinics with the kids includes, KZN Dolphins cricketer Mthokozisi Shezi and SA Athlete Siyabonga Nkonde.
All interested parents are encouraged to come early on Saturday morning at 9am to register their kids otherwise they might no find space as space is limited.
For further information please contact Lunga Ntuli on 078 33 808 49.
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