Heroes of non-racial sport honoured

Cape Town - Athletes from across Cape Town, record breakers of yesteryear, and youngsters dreaming of making a name for themselves, met at the Green Point Athletics Stadium on Tuesday for the inaugural Kenny Roman Memorial Schools Sports Meeting.

With the old Green Point track in the background, a number of schools faced off, showcasing their athletic talent in the meet which was organised by PlaySport4Life.

Unlike other school meets, Tuesday's participants - who came from schools with reputations for having played pivotal roles in the liberation struggle against apartheid and having produced exemplary sportspeople - were not only competing in front of their peers. In what was dubbed a revival of the “friendship-building, competitive traditions of the 80s”, competition on the day went hand-in-hand with honouring the sports legends of the Cape Flats, Cape Town's impoverished and marginalised areas.

“Today we honour the great heroes of non-racial sport,” said president of the South African Council on Sport (SACOS), Frank Van der Horst.

“They sacrificed their lives in the just struggle for social and class equality, human rights, and equal opportunity in sport and every part of social life.” Those honoured were inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame, which coincided with the honouring of the late Kenny Roman, a star sprinter.

Throughout, an image of Roman watched over the activities and the induction service. Included in the inaugural group along with Van Der Horst was athletic doyen Cecil Blows, outstanding sportsman and pundit Herman Gibbs, Afrika Ablaze director Glenda Jones, successful entrepreneur Mzoli Ngcawuzele, activist Derrick Naidoo, and all-rounder Andre Alexander. Joining the aforementioned were champions Eddie May, Robin April, Dianne Morgan, Jackie Swanepoel, Leon Petersen, Gavin Benjamin, Deon Campher, Andy James, Allan O'Ryan, Nathan De Kock, Terrence Smith, Sharon Siljeur, Zelda Davids and Shaheeda Majied.

Discussing the group, Van Der Horst said the individuals provided “viable leadership” during the liberation struggle when many political figures were banned or in exile. Their sacrifices during the struggle of course included their personal safety but also their dreams as they lived the SACOS slogan, “No normal sport in an abnormal society”. Some, said Van Der Horst, paid with their lives, such as sportsman Griffiths Mxenge and teacher George Botha.

Linking the generations at the stadium, Van Der Horst said although apartheid was gone, South Africa remained an “abnormal society”. Rape, xenophobia, gang violence, and widening inequality threatened the nation's well-being. He thus called on the youth present in the stands and on the track to emulate the inducted legends by pursuing both sports and academic excellence.

This, he said, would assist in combatting he ills of poor and marginalised communities. “It is a powerful counter to drug abuse, anti-social behaviour, poor discipline, and bad personal values,” said Van Der Horst.

The schools that competed on the day included Harold Cressy, Trafalgar, South Peninsula, Athlone, Wittebome and Spine Road. - African News Agency (ANA)

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