Boost for Young Pirates soccer team
New kit supplied to keep development squad youth away from drugs, crime
he Young Pirates Development League team, a crucial nursery for its senior side that competes in the Local Football Association and SAB Leagues, has received a boost after sponsored kit was handed over to the club.
The group of enthusiastic footballers sang with joy when they revealed their new kit at the Walter Matthews fields, situated next to Nemato’s Dambuza Primary School, on Friday last week.
The team, which consists predominantly of young pupils, is buoyed by the fact that the venue is also currently receiving an extensive upgrade. A grader was busy levelling out the soil while a newly-built clubhouse and a retaining wall spanning the huge facility, were evidence enough that progress was being made with the refurbishment programme.
Club manager Xolani Bukani said they were thankful to Rotary Port Alfred’s Ray Oliver, who donated the kit to the club.
“The jerseys were given to Oliver by an Australian donor and he contacted us to find out if we would like to accept the jerseys, which of course we gladly did … so we are very grateful to him.
“We really need the jerseys, and they bring a lot of joy to the boys.”
Though available finances were a huge problem for the club, which has three junior teams — two development teams (U17 & U19) and a senior team — Bukani said they were doing their utmost as administrators to keep players motivated.
Bukani said the club, founded 40 years ago, was struggling to afford transport costs and lack of equipment was another pressing issue that was impacting progress.
“With of course most of our juniors and senior youth being at school or unemployed, it is a struggle to keep them motivated due to lack of available finances but we do our best because in the township these children are exposed to substance abuse and other crimes.
“It is important to keep them away from these scourges.
“It is very difficult to keep club members motivated especially our SAB League team … we travel a lot to places such as Makhanda and Alicedale.
“For example, a trip to Makhanda costs us about R3,500.
“Where do the children get this money when families are struggling?
“We somehow do manage by organising raffles and asking local shops to assist us — so it is not easy; it is a huge battle.”
Bukani said the financial struggles
Tmeant they did not make a good start to the season but gestures such as the sponsored kit go a long way in boosting hopes and ambitions.
“Our next SAB match is in Makhanda and it plays on our minds as to how we are going to get there due to the transports costs involved, and it can affect performance.”
Bukani said there was always hope on the horizon now that the Walter Matthews fields were receiving an upgrade. “We are having to play in Endlovini now that the upgrade is in progress, but we are very thankful that we will soon be having a much better facility to train at.
“Despite the problems we have mentioned the youngsters in our region are very talented … and believe they could be playing in stronger leagues or divisions. At our club, we put a huge emphasis on discipline and the youngsters know that.
“In our townships, unfortunately, substance abuse is a huge problem so it is motivating for us as coaches and administrators to see the youngsters so eager to be involved in football and to stay motivated and competitive.
“We are also very happy and thankful that Ndlambe Municipality is developing and upgrading our home ground and there is a lot of excitement about the future of the facility.
“Remember, the club also has a netball team that will be using the facility that we envisage will be finished by June.”
David Mabona, whose two teenage boys are playing at Young Pirates emphasised that sport was an important vehicle to diverting children away from the drugs scourge.
“The children are exposed to cricket, rugby, boxing, football in our region and it is important we keep them interested in these sports.
“Travelling costs are a huge hurdle to progress as most of our clubs have young members who are not working and depend on parents who are struggling to make ends meet.
“It would be great of course if help of any kind was forthcoming from potential sponsors in our region.”