Parental support vital for our children

Iremember the day I broke my arm during a football match as if it happened yesterday, when it was actually way back in the Nineties and I was a primary school pupil.

I thought of this unfortunate event this week when I listened to Simba Marumo speak during the launch of the Copa Coca-Cola schools’ tournament, where he stressed the importance of parents supporting their kids’ sports participation in every way possible.

I sometimes think I could have made it to the professional ranks had I received support, and didn’t have to sneak out of the house whenever I wanted to go and play.

Okay, let me finish the story of how I got injured so you can see how it is relevant to the issue raised by Simba.

There was a strict rule that forbade me from playing football during the week. One wicked Wednesday I broke the rule, like I did almost every day, but unfortunately it ended badly.

I went for a header and collided with the other guy and I came out second best, falling on my right arm.

I didn’t feel immediate pain but I could feel it was bad. I left the match, went to fetch my father’s cattle and went home.

I obviously had to hide my injury, because I would have to answer

Sibongiseni Gumbi

questions and probably get a few lashings as well.

As the evening grew, so did the pain. It started to swell and by 11pm I had tried to sleep but couldn’t because the pain was excruciating. I did what every 13-year-old would in that situation – I cried.

My mother woke up and attended to me. The truth had to come out. She was more disappointed that I had not told them of my injury when I came back because they would have arranged for transport to take me to the clinic. I grew up in a rural area so there were not too many cars then.

They gave me some painkillers and I only went to the clinic the next morning.

As Simba related how some kids were not too keen when he suggested they need to see their parents, it touched me. I remembered my own story. Some kids have to sometimes sneak out to go for try-outs or to play.

Even those whose parents have no problem with them playing, are often just given permission but not support.

So many parents have never seen their kids play – whatever sport it might be. This needs to change. It is more prevalent in the black communities.

Let us please support our kids, I know sometimes we are pressed for time but asking them how their game went could be very good. If you have that open communication with your child and you support their activities, it will be easier for them to come to you when they have issues.

Who knows, maybe your son is the next Benni McCarthy and the football gods know how much we can do with a player of that calibre right now.