Rula gives rural youth a sporting chance to achieve their real worth

Keep the youth occupied with sport and empowering activities – this is the message from Nkosi Mongi Rula, who started his own goodwill games in a bid to keep the youth of Flagstaff off the streets and out of taverns.

Rula told the Daily Dispatch that he started the Inkosi Mongi Rula goodwill games, which saw a number of teams competing over the past weekend, to fight social ills in the three villages he heads in the Thaweni administrative area and surrounding villages.

He said the villages were notorious for crime and with the games he was helping to fight that and promote sport and cultural activities, especially in the rural areas.

“You find young people standing or lazing around shop corners and taverns in these villages when they knock off from school. They have nothing to do,” said Rula, who played soccer as a midfielder.

“This is my way of doing what I can to save our young people, both girls and boys, and I know that sport teaches discipline,” he said.

“I could not just let things slide and watch while our children’s bright futures hang by a thread. I introduced sport as I saw that, apart from school work, there was nothing else that young people do that empowered them.”

“I want to teach them that there is more to life than crime – with sport they can go on to become professional players some day.”

For now the goodwill games include soccer and netball, but that is a first step towards many tournaments to come.

“My call is for business people to assist us where they can as we can only do so much.”

Among some of the things they need help with is soccer kits and balls.

“Veterans who I grew up playing soccer with are also a part of this initiative and they offer much needed help and motivation to the youth.

“My goal is to establish this and make it bigger and better to assist not only the young people but everyone, including the elderly.”

You find young people standing around shop corners and taverns

This is my way of doing what

I can to save our young people