Over 20 different sporting codes have been identified, in celebration of 20 years of democracy, to take place in and around Soweto.
Soweto Sports Council’s mandate is to identify and nurture grass-root talent that would one day feed into the national teams.
After extensive consultation with federations, ward councillors and ward sports committees, preliminary matches begun months ago.
Lawrence Mahatlane, the chairperson of the SSC and the current Head Coach of the South African U/19 cricket team; says they want to get Soweto playing and reignite the mass participation in sport from grassroots.
“I am passionate about sport development more so because, I am myself a product of such initiatives and those have to start from grassroots. I firmly believe that there is no better time to start, but by doing that from today, we will be investing in our future national players,” said Mahatlane, a Rockville product.
This bold initiative is backed by sports legends such as former Olympics Silver Medallist Hezekiel Sepeng, Bafana coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba, rugby’s Owen Nkumane, cricket’s Lions and Strikers coaches, Geoffrey Toyana and Enoch Nkwe, respectively, with former world boxing champion Lehlohonolo Ledwaba and former SA mini-flyweight champion Stephen Msimanga.
The Soweto Ward Games (SWGs) are organized by the Soweto Sports Council in partnership with the Gauteng Provincial Government’s Department of Sport, Arts, Culture & Recreation and the City of Johannesburg (CoJ).
Talented youngsters, who are identified through the Soweto Ward Games (SWGs) are expected to one day, shall wear national colours and represent their country at international sporting events such as the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, the ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC) and ICC World Twenty20 (WT20), the Rugby World Cup (RWC), the International Athletics Association Federation (IAAF), the global netball tournaments and the ATP Tour, amongst others.
Semi-finals and finals will be held on the weekend of October 4 and 5, at 14 facilities in Region D, at the following venues: Elkah Sport Complex (Rockville), Moletsane Sport Complex, Pimville Multipurpose Centre, Mapetla Sport Complex, Naledi Hall, Phefeni Recreation Centre, Meadowlands Zone 10 Hall, Dube Boxing Club, Kopanong Hall, Dobsonville Rugby Field, Pimville Golf Course, the Dobsonville Cricket Oval, the Nike Sport Field (Pimville) and Arthur Ashe Tennis Centre(Jabavu.)
Entrance to the games is FREE!
