Country’s Top Schools to Compete at League Finals

The SA Schools League final, which forms part of the National School Sports Championship,will see learners from schools across the country compete at the University of Pretoria and other venues from 8 to 15 December 2012. The main event will be preceded by a float procession and other exciting carnival activities.

This partnership between Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA), the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and other local stakeholders will enable thousands of learners in the age group 13–18 years from about 60 schools to compete for honours in a variety of sporting codes.

The SA Schools League programme was launched on 28 March 2012 by Minister of Sport and Recreation Mr Fikile Mbalula and his Basic Education counterpart Ms Angie Motshekga. A total of 13 782 schools responded to a DBE call at the beginning of 2012 to register to participate in the school sport league programme in athletics, netball, football, cricket, rugby, gymnastics, volleyball, basketball and chess.

Schools compete at intra-school, inter-school, district and provincial level. Winning teams at the provincial level qualify to participate in the SA Schools’ Championship. The championship is an opportunity for gifted sportspersons to be noticed by federation talent scouts.

SRSA will offer support, including bursaries, to talented athletes through the Sport Focus Schools Programme to be rolled out in 2013. Schools with the necessary infrastructure to support and nurture talent will be asked to offer places to promising athletes. Sport development at school level now is building the national teams of tomorrow.