The Sporting Option

Investing in sports could be a way up for many young Africans

Lazarus Sauti

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ports, whether team-based or individual, are a great activity for youths that provide a variety of benefits other than physical ones.

Participation in sports can help build self-esteem and confidence, can motivate youths to excel academically and can help build social skills. Again, participation in different sporting activities can teach young people the benefits of goal-setting, dealing with defeat, preparation and strategising.

The sporting sector has grown to be a value industry the world over, and is generating billions of dollars for athletes, organisers, advertisers, television and many other industries.

For these and other reasons and benefits associated with participating in sporting activities, youths in the African continent should be encouraged to take sports seriously as an avenue to tackle high unemployment rate.

Felistus Muzongondi, Zimbabwe national women’s team vice-captain urged African governments to encourage youths to engage in sports seriously as an avenue to tackle the high unemployment rate.

Felistus Muzongondi, who is the vice captain of Zimbabwe national women’s soccer team, says African governments need to do more by way of investing time, money, energy and ideas in spreading and growing sports across the continent.

She says, apart from the potentially immense financial benefits, “Sports participation can help youths in Africa to develop social skills that will benefit them throughout their entire lives.

“Youths can learn to interact not only with their counterparts (other youths) but also with older individuals such as their coaches and sports officials.”

Soccer player Leonard Fiyado, who plays for Caps United in Zimbabwe, adds that African governments and citizens should start looking at sports as a science and as a business.

He goes on to say that, “Sports participation promotes health and wellness throughout the youth’s lifetime. Youths who participate in sports might also be more aware of healthy food choices.”

Ultimately, engaging in sports can have a huge positive impact on young peoples’ self-esteem and confidence, and these are skills that are important regardless of the career a person chooses to follow after school or after their professional sorts careers end.

Muzongondi says: “Youths who participate in sports get praise and encouragement from peers, coaches and parents, and all this helps to build self-confidence.

“They also learn to trust in their own abilities and push themselves to achieve more in their respective sporting careers.”

Former Kenyan president, Mwai Kibaki has expressed his belief that it is the responsibility of political leaders in Africa to play a leading in promoting sports as a serious industry.

Kibaki’s view is that, “It is the role of African governments to work with stakeholders in the sporting sector to steer ahead sporting activities that will help youths to develop and survive.”

He also noted that in order for the continent to establish and maintain its supremacy in sports, efforts should be made to facilitate sporting activities among the youths.

“The future of sports depends on how we train our youths and at the same time how we involve them in sports activities.”

And promotion of sports, former president Kibaki says, should go beyond the traditional scope of soccer and incorporate elitist sports such as cricket, swimming and golf so these have very high returns but remain under-invested in much of Africa.

“African countries should build training facilities such as golf courses, basketball courts, swimming pools and tennis courts to enable popular participation in ‘elitist’ sports,” advises Kibaki.

To effectively encourage youths to engage in sports requires a multi-sectoral approach. All sectors must contribute for the benefit of the continent.

Fiyado believes that the introduction of juniors’ leagues and involvement of schools are two important factors that can lure youths to participate in sporting activities and refrain from anti-social behaviour.

He says, “Most big soccer teams in Zimbabwe have junior teams but all teams should be encouraged to have them so that more youths can be accommodated.”

Fiyado goes on to say, “It is also important for schools to engage everyone to get in on sports, for example by involving young people in the selection and planning of sporting activities.”

Primary and secondary schools also need to broaden the range of lunchtime and after-hours sports clubs to increase opportunities for young people to take part in different sporting activities.

For this to happen, there must be motivated teachers and suitable and highly qualified coaches on the ground ready to support young people who show an interest in sport at primary and secondary level.

Muzongondi believes that since sports personalities are role models, parents should use them to encourage their children to also engage in sports.

She said; “Parents should persuade their children to emulate sports personalities, lead active lifestyles and get them involved in sport”

On this matter, Muzongondi adds, “Government should easy pressure on parents’ shoulders by supporting youths with resources such as training kits.”

It is not a secret that the African continent is characterised by high unemployment rate. Therefore, urging youths to engage in sports is an effective way of empowering them and in the process preventing them from engaging in criminal activities or simply leading aimless lives as they find themselves outside the job market.

Youths dedicated to sports are less likely to start using harmful and illegal drugs because it will affect their bodies and thus affect their performance in their sport of choice.