Facebook group shares northern areas’ sporting success stories
● Sport lovers highlight community’s stars and hidden gems
Spreading the message of hope and highlighting the positives in Nelson Mandela Bay’s northern suburbs is high on the agenda for a group of friends looking to make a difference.
These were the blocks on which Facebook group Sporting Success from the Northern Areas, PE, was built, group founder Reeze Telling said.
Telling runs the group along with fellow administrators Chris Rembe and Feizal Nicholas.
The group has shared stories of some of the best sporting talents to come from the city’s northern suburbs.
Hockey players Liesel Dorothy, Kiara Meyer, Caylin Maree; sporting administrator Gary Dolley; cricketers Ashwell Prince, Robin Peterson, Alviro Petersen, Garnett Kruger and Shafiek Abrahams; footballers Kaylin Swart, Frankie Schoeman, Elrio van Heerden and Ronwen Williams; and cue sports champion Nicola Rossouw are just some of the names profiled on the group.
Telling said the group wanted to highlight the positive stories coming from the community and not just those of gangsterism, substance abuse and violence.
“We grew tired of having to read [about] and listen to the bad elements that exist in our community,” Telling said.
Rembe, an SA and EP hockey player who is still actively involved in the sport, said there were many talented individuals in this community, but many of their stories were never told.
“There is so much potential in the area. “There are many people who go under the radar, so we want to tell their stories and also give hope where there might not be any,” Rembe said.
Nicholas said he jumped at the opportunity to be a part of Telling’s project, adding that the smiles on the faces of those whom they profiled were payment enough for the work they did.
Telling said the group’s membership numbers were climbing daily.
“It started off very casually but I think what has added value now is the stories being told in both virtual interviews and in written form.
“We are always looking for new ideas on how to make the platform more engaging to our viewers,” Nicholas said.
Telling, who himself had previously travelled along the road of drug and alcohol addiction, and then recovery, said he would never have been able to get where he was without the love and support of his family and those close to him.
Nicholas, who still plays masters football for Saints Football Club, said: “The role of the parents is particularly important and once you have that support, half the job is already done; the rest then falls to you as the individual.”
Adding to that, Rembe said: “Sport is not only about talent, it also teaches us a lot of discipline and life lessons, how to work in a group and it can help with self confidence as well.
“We have basically had the same journey in terms of sport; however, we have emphasised the aspect of support.
“As players, having not had that kind of support, we are now trying to bring the message that support plays a big role, be it financially, emotionally or even just being there,” Telling, who grew up in Gelvandale, said.
Asked if there were any plans to expand the group’s reach to include sportsmen and women from the township, Telling said it was something that might be discussed at a later stage.
Telling called on the community to share their stories of success with the group and to use the platform to inspire others.
Story ideas may be sent to the group administrators at: sportingsuccessna.pe@gmail.com