Johannesburg - The first group of school-going athletes, who received the Ministerial Sport Bursary Scheme, represent the potential of future champions of South Africa, says Sport and Recreation Director-General, Alec Moemi.
Moemi was speaking to SAnews on Friday in Kempton Park after presenting the bursaries to 14 talented and successful learners, who participated in the School Sport Championships.
“The importance of the Ministerial Sport Bursary Scheme is to broaden the huge talent which is untapped in the country, largely because mass participation programmes have not been broadened and we don’t have a very robust talent identification programme in the country.
“It is for that reason we’ve instituted this bursary scheme to support and nurture the talent of these athletes, so we believe that these children represent the potential future champions of our country,” he said.
The Department of Sport and Recreation launched the first ever South Africa School Programme in December 2011, in partnership with the Department of Basic Education.
The programme kicked off last year with a countrywide registration programme for schools that were interested in taking part in the 2012 School Sport Leagues and National Championships.
The National Championships, together with the School Sport Leagues, saw the entire nine provinces strongly represented in all the different nine sporting codes registered for the 2012 academic year.
Nurturing young talent
Sport Minister Fikile Mbalula unveiled the Ministerial Sport Bursary Scheme to reward and recognise the efforts of all talented young athletes in schools.
This bursary scheme will award and support all the promising and dedicated school-going athletes to unleash their potential.
Moemi said the bursary was valued at R100 000 per learner, adding that 40 percent was for tuition; 48 percent for scientific support, and 12 percent for logistical support, such as transport.
The bursary scheme will play a big role in helping the department realise its goal of providing an enabling environment for grassroots sport development and high performance.
“This effort, together with all our interventions, will ensure that all our talented athletes in the school-going age are adequately supported and a conducive environment is created for their development and nurturing at all times, including providing them with a balanced, nurturing programme, with an emphasis on both academic and sport excellence,” said Moemi.
“We will not rest until all our children are given an equal opportunity to participate freely in sport and recreation,” he said.
Lukhanyo Grootboom, 14, a basketball player from Montevideo Primary School in the Western Cape said: “I’m grateful for being selected as one of the sport bursary recipients and I will use it wisely, so that I will probably become one of the best basketball players in the country in the near future.”
The bursary, which targets learners from Grade 8 – 12, will be only be valid as long as the learner is in school until matric.
However, Moemi said if a learner fails and repeats an academic year, the bursary will be terminated immediately.
“That is why we emphasise a balanced academic and sport achievement and outcomes. It is our belief that this support will ultimately pay-off in the next 10 - 15 years to come.
“This investment in the holistic development and nurturing of our young athletes will go a long way to assist us in the realisation of our National Sport and Recreation Plan – Vision 2030.”
The bursary recipients will from now-on have an opportunity to continue pursuing both academic and sport programmes with structured support and guidance.
They will have all the opportunity they want to learn extra skills, knowledge and attitude that will benefit their participation in sport programmes, whilst at the same time contributing positively towards academic and sport results.
The athletes will also have an added opportunity to be guided by qualified and professional sport scientists, biokinetics, nutritionists and other experienced specialists in the field of medical and sport science.
These athletes are attached to the nearest District or Provincial Academy with a dedicated scientific support unit to fulfill the requirements of this support. - SAnews.gov.za
