Myolisi Gophe

More than a 100 young girls from 12 clubs across the city braved a wet, windy, and chilly Saturday at Milnerton High School to compete in an event the organisers suggest, is about much more than just winning.

Unlike typical sporting events, this tournament, called NxtGenWomxn LITE, emphasised that every participant, aged 11 to 17, was a winner. In addition to the matches, the girls engaged in mental health awareness and personal growth sessions, which ran between rounds of netball.

Saturday’s netball tournament included mental health awareness and personal growth sessions, which ran between rounds of netball.

Organised by the Woodstock-based non-profit organisation School of Hard Knocks (SoHK), the event combined sport with mental health education.

SoHK is dedicated to promoting mental health among women and girls; this event was no exception. According to their assessments, 94% of the participants learned healthy ways to cope with overwhelming emotions, 84% gained knowledge about whom to contact when struggling, and 86% developed a deeper understanding of their emotions.

School of Hard Knocks (SoHK) facilitator and a member of Amandla EduFootball, Sisonke Holideyi, centre, share a light moment with players following matches played at Saturday’s netball tournament.

Nontlantla Noni Mxakaza, a coach from Pro Stars Academy and an umpire for Tygerberg Netball Club, said this was her first time working with SoHK.

She appreciated bringing together children from resource-strapped townships and those from more privileged suburbs. “Although I wasn't part of the sessions since I was officiating some of the games, I overheard the girls discussing how they react to certain situations, the emotions they can and cannot control, and how this impacts them emotionally, psychologically, and in their responses to various situations.”

Parents who attended the event were impressed by the initiative. Sandra Wilson from Parklands brought all four of her daughters and shared her thoughts: “This was a wonderful day for our kids, who came out despite the rain. It was an interesting initiative, and the lessons they learned today were invaluable. Mixing sports with learning sessions is important, as it helps kids think both on and off the court, especially when emotions are difficult to manage.”

One of her daughters added, “We learned to respect other people's opinions and emotions. We also learned that everyone has a different perspective, and it's essential to compromise and meet each other halfway whenever possible.”

Elzaan Knipe, whose daughter plays for Pro Stars, expressed her delight: “It's lovely to see kids from different communities come together. I told my daughter to be aware that many kids don't know what it feels like to be loved or to have opportunities. We saw sessions where kids spoke about mental health issues, and children must understand these topics.”

School of Hard Knocks (SoHK) facilitators gather for a group photo following Saturdays NxtGenWomxn LITE netball tournament.

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