By Vince van der Bijl

The MCC Chairman, Gerald Corbett with his wife, Virginia, the MCC Foundation Chairman, Philip Hodson and a trustee of the MCC Foundation, Rick Johnson, visited Ukhanyo PS on the 8^th, a day after the exciting English Team’s win over the Proteas. They were pretty happy!

Four coaches Teddy, Fez, Phila and ‘Star’ as well as the Headmaster Michael Thyali cut their holidays short to welcome the MCC visitors. Ukhanyo kids came out in droves to practice cricket, soccer, tag rugby and netball and to show off the facilities developed by the MCC Masi sports project and Masicorp.

The commitment to the project by the Principal, coaches, staff and kids exemplified by so many coming back to Masiphumelele early for the MCC visit to meet the MCC Chairmen and Trustees. Many thanks team!

Vince van der Bijl and Exco member Alex Hetherington, first, showed the group the two new netball/basketball artificial surfaces laid down by the MCC Masi sports project at the Masiphumelele High School.  The three-year plans for 2020, agreed with the Principal, Nelson Mafrika, at the High School were discussed. They included the introduction of summer sports for the first time with cricket nets to be built by the fourth term of the year.

Currently soccer and cricket are being practiced at Ukhanyo due to the dearth of facilities at the High School, except for the new netball courts. A sports programme will be introduced during 2020 and expanded in the following year. This includes school-branded kit, the introduction of basketball, school teams playing in the school leagues and an increase in coaches drive the programme. Life skills at the beginning of every training session will too be introduced.

It was the first visit by the MCC since the launch in August 2017 and the MCC group were impressed by the facilities, the school-branded kit, the broad sports programme, the inter-gender nature of the school teams and the standard of play.

The enthusiasm of the kids for sport was palpable. On arrival at the school, Teddy Nyali and Fez Payi were involved in giving life skills training, which is done at the beginning of every coaching session.

Important discussions regarding the need for a 60 x 30 astroturf playing surface on the remaining damaged and unusable veld (open field) at Ukhanyo PS ensued.

The operational costs of running the project in 2020 are R1.2 million. That is separate to the R3 mill required for the 60 x 30 artificial surfaced field. Concepts to start this specific sports field fundraising drive were shared.

The MCC Masi sports project is aiming to construct the field by January 2022. The field would conclude the planned facilities build for the Ukhanyo PS and allow focus to be placed on the required facilities for the High School.

It is important to note that these facilities will be made available for community sport, as part of the vision to transform Masiphumelele through sport and their youth.

The combination of skills, sport and Education (via Masicorp’s education support for Ukhanyo PS and the Masiphumelele HS) is key to giving the youth, their parents and the community the confidence, self-belief and skills to forge a successful and fulfilling future.

The other main drive is to enhance the integration of the historically racially segregated residential areas in the Deep South Valley, through the introduction of sports events with all the schools of the valley in 2020.

The MCC visit illustrated the progress made in two years and kids demonstrated their skills and self-belief as well as excitement and fun in playing sport. It was a special day for us all.

Thanks, MCC for the visit and your support.  Such a boost for our project and schools.