By: Khetho Dlamini

Speaker of the eThekwini Council Logie Naidoo has declared that transformation in sport is high up on the agenda of government.

Naidoo was speaking at the open training session of the South African rugby national team at the Moses Mabhida Stadium this afternoon.

He said that they are committed into introducing a positive change in every sphere of sport and fast track people who have talent.

“Now you have the chance you never had before in the old dispensation. Today, look at Siyabonga Nomvethe, from the dusty township of Kwa-Mashu to international football seen on television by millions of people,” added Naidoo.

Themba Mvubu, a coach of the Kwa-Mashu development soccer club said that soccer trials and better opportunities are not present in the townships.

Mvubu said, “There is an abundance of talent in the township but that talent ends up going to waste because opportunities are not presented, that much talent ends up underutilised.”

Local players in the lower leagues expressed their wish to be on the national team and do their very best to bring back the dignity of the country in all sporting codes.

“I believe that I can make a change and earn our country respect in soccer. There are millions of people behind me who are into different sporting codes who I believe share a same view point with me,” said a local footballer Mncedisi Maphumulo.

Government has made promises to the youth to bring about sport transformation and the people await to witness the change.