The City of Johannesburg’s Sport and Recreation recently conducted a Drug Awareness in Sport programme for the youth at Rotunda Recreation Centre in Rosettenville, Region F.
The initiative was aimed at educating young people about the harmful effects of drugs on the human body. The event, which took place on 3 December 2021, drew over 100 young people.
When the Drug Awareness in Sport mobile stage truck drove through the park with its ear-blasting music, squeals of excitement from the youngsters filled the air in the south of Joburg.
Young people and various sport groups were on site and joined in the fun. The programme included a range of activities such as soccer (5 aside), netball, basketball, recreation games, aerobics, athletics, libraries read a book, and extreme sport.
“The youth gained a great deal of information because we educated them about drugs, and they will gained physical fitness via the numerous physical activities for the day,” said project director Prudence Nyathi.
For many youngsters, the use of alcohol, drugs or other substances as well as habit-forming behaviours such as cigarette smoking is part of growing up. Many use these substances a few times before quitting, while others may continue to use them on a more regular basis, resulting in addiction.
“What I’ve seen here today excites me a lot as this is a park that I use a lot to coach my team of young boys. Thank you to the City of Joburg for recognising our neighborhood as the host area; this is going to benefit the region as a whole, and I hope that this can happen annually within our community,” said Sipho Shiba, football coordinator and head coach of Black City Aces.
Fortune Makaringe, a professional soccer player for the Orlando Pirates football club, advised the youth to avoid drugs and engage in sports or constructive hobbies that will help them develop their future.
“There are no dreams where there are drugs because drugs can destroy dreams. Don’t damage your world because of drugs. Your future is your world, and your future can change the world,” said Makaringe.
Written by Ntombifuthi Junerose Nkosi
06/12/2021