The event saw a spirited competition, showcasing the talents of athletes from special schools alongside their peers from mainstream schools and local clubs.
The much-anticipated District Unified Soccer Tournament took place on Friday, August 23 at the FNB Turf Soccer Field in Kimberley.
The event saw a spirited competition between Boitumelo Special School and Jannie Brink Special School, showcasing the talents of athletes from special schools alongside their peers from mainstream schools and local clubs.
In the boys’ match, Boitumelo emerged victorious with a commanding 6-1 win over Jannie Brink Special School. The unified team, consisting of 12 players – 7 athletes from special schools and five partners from schools or clubs – played a seven-a-side format, with four athletes and three partners on the field. Tournament regulations ensured that partners, who assist athletes on the field, never outnumbered the athletes themselves.
On the girls’ side, the competition was equally fierce, with the Boitumelo girls’ team composed of nine players – five athletes and four partners – playing a five-a-side format. After giving their best efforts, the Boitumelo girls beat Jannie Brink 6-0.
The rules for the girls’ team similarly stipulated that partners never exceed the number of athletes on the field. The age group for both boys and girls teams ranged from 16 to 25 years.
Meanwhile, more recently, on September 5, the provincial games followed at the same venue. The competition was intense as Boitumelo faced off against other regional teams.
In the boys’ division, the Boitumelo unified team went head-to-head with Learamele Special School and emerged victorious with a 3-0 win, advancing them to the National Special Olympics taking place on December 6-9 in Gauteng Province.
Because Learamele Special School, representing the JTG district, only brought a boys’ team and no girls’ team, this allowed the Boitumelo girls’ team to automatically advance to the Nationals as well.
Nontsikelelo Ndzilili, coach for the Special Olympics at Boitumelo Special School, expressed heartfelt thanks to the dedicated coaches who contributed to the team’s success. Special recognition was given to Coach Kagisho Matile (boys team) and Coach Kamogelo Matthews for guiding the girls’ team.
“We are incredibly grateful for the coaches who sacrificed their time and energy to help our teams reach this milestone,” said Ndzilili. “Thanks also to the Sol Plaatje LFA for the availability of the soccer field and to Ms. Tillie Tawana for securing the turf and ensuring everything was ready for the games.”
As Boitumelo Special School now looks ahead to the Special Olympics National Unified Soccer Games, the entire community is filled with pride and excitement, eager to see both teams perform, and hopefully excel, on the national stage.
