Sporting pupils hope to be kings of Riebeek Kasteel

SPORT is a way of life for many children living in Riebeek Kasteel, but the town’s infrastructure isn’t providing much help.

In support of their 16 Days for Youth Campaign, the Heart 104.9FM crew visited the small town outside Malmesbury, to lend a hand, erecting basketball hoops and a scoreboard in an abandoned playground.

The crew also visited Riebeeck Vallei Special School to donate food to its pupils.

Riebeeck Vallei’s sports coordinator, Jevon Appollis, said the school had two separate units: a school for skills and a school for mentally and physically disabled children.

“Our children play in leagues with other special schools and they excel,” he said.

Riebeeck Vallei offers various sporting options and has produced champions in athletics.

Edwin Erasmus, 18, a finalyear pupil at the school, is in the Boland teams for both rugby and cricket.

“I started playing to get out of my comfort zone because I was very shy and alone when I got to the school,” said Erasmus.

“I came here from Porterville High School and I did not understand why I was in a special school. But luckily my teachers made me understand,” he added.

Geriano Green, 16, who plays Boland cricket and rugby, also sought refuge in sports.

“My school mates started appreciating me more when I started playing sport, and that made me feel very good about myself,” he said.

Nazeema Johnson, 16, said there were many stigmas attached to being at a “special” school.

“Many people think that we are dumb and that we can’t do things for ourselves,” she said, adding that she started playing rugby as a way to empower other girls.

“I want to show all the boys that we can also do what they do, if not better,” she said.

Kaylin van der Horst, 16, agreed: ”I want to play with the mainstream schools and show them that there is nothing wrong with us.”

Many pupils wish to take their sports further and hopefully play at a national level.

Maths teacher Zhanley Sauls said many of their pupils did not get accepted into tertiary institutions, so they equipped them with various skills instead.

“We encourage our learners in motor mechanic classes, needlework classes, hospitality classes and many more,” Sauls said.