Unity in sports is the way forward: Minister of Sports and Recreation, Fikile Mbalula

South Africa’s dream to be a winning nation can never be achieved unless the sporting fraternity unites for a common purpose. Minister of Sports and Recreation, Fikile Mbalula said during an Imbizo that was held in Lillian Ngoyi Sports Centre on Thursday (10 October 2013).

Minister Mbalula was addressing sporting federations, Nelson Mandela Bay political leadership and the community. The Imbizo was part of President Jacob Zuma’s Imbizo Week Engagements by cabinet.

The day visit by Minister Mbalula started in Uitenhage Town Hall where the Minister Mbalula, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Deputy Executive Mayor Chippa Ngolomba and Sport and Recreation Portfolio Chairman Nomamerika Magopheni held a closed session with leaders of sporting federations.

At that session issues of sport transformation, availability sporting facilities and the condition of sports fields were discussed.

It was followed by an Imbizo session at Lillian Ngoyi Sport Centre in Kwazakhele Township where the leadership had an interactive session with the members of different clubs, sporting codes and general community.

During the interactive session issues of issues of lack of facilities were raised. The Minister and the municipal leadership was also asked to assist sporting federations in mobilising funding.

Minister Mbalula said the visit was not the first and not the last in the Nelson Mandela Bay.

“It is crucial for us to commit ourselves in making sure that sports development in the metro works. The success of the Nelson Mandela Bay will translate to the success of the Eastern Cape as a whole,” said Minister Mbalula.

He said all the efforts that the leadership might do will not work if the sporting community does not unite.

“We need you to unite for government to be able to assist. Sustainable solutions can only be done when we all unite for a common purpose. This is very important for the future of our children who have dreams of becoming world champions one day,” said Minister Mbalula.

The minister said the school sport was another key aspect that needs to be strengthened. “For us to excel we need to do these things right from the start,” he said.

Deputy Executive Mayor Ngcolomba said the visit by the Minister was good for the development of sport in the City.

“We are a City that aspires to be in the map as a City that produces World Champions. The interactions with the Ministry as the political leadership and Nelson Mandela Bay sporting fraternity is a step towards the right direction,” said Deputy Executive Mayor Ngcolomba.