Getting youngsters to play ball on a regular basis has been one of the key forces behind an initiative to establish an interim committee to drive the revival of netball in Hanover Park, says Rashieda Davids.
Davids and others have been hard at work putting together a framework to ensure regular fixtures on the netball courts opposite the Downberg sports complex. At the weekend, players from juniors to seniors, representing 11 community clubs took to the court.
A sports coordinator at Oaklands High, Davids have been involved with sports development for more than 20 years, starting out with the department of cultural affairs and sport’s now defunct Sports Stepping Stones programme in 2004. At the time the programme was established to encourage participation in and the promotion of school sports.
Equally passionate about the community and efforts to combat social issues they have to deal with on a daily basis, Davids and her friends involved with various netball clubs decided to join hands and to focus their energy on getting a structured netball league off the ground.
“I’m passionate about netball and wanting to bring about positive change in the community,” she said. “And we’re using netball as a vehicle for change,” she said.
Fellow committee member Jody Gilfelleon said the idea is to set the tone for the future of different sporting codes in Hanover Park.
Like Davids, Gilfelleon is involved with various sports organisations, including Mitchell’s Plain-based Unchain The Plain (UTP), a non-profit organisation involved in distributing sports equipment to needy clubs and organisations.
He said the committee will meet with UTP this week to discuss plans for a big sports festival in December.
For more information, call Davids 063 925 5023.
