02 May 2023

Sunday Soccer social clubs have been commended for encouraging the community to lead healthy and active lifestyles.

A nurse from Ngami DHMT, Reitumetse Mokgaotsane praised Moremogolo, Sehithwa, Khoemacau and Bagaetsho social clubs for organising a soccer charity tournament and a health campaign to raise awareness among Sehithwa community on the importance of health and wellbeing.

Through the event, the community had the opportunity to be sensitised on malaria prevention, and also do some screening on tuberculosis HIV and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) which are a leading cause of death globally.

The initiative, she said, motivated members of the community to engage in physical exercise to help manage weight and reduce the risk of contracting diseases.

She appealed to the community to always take care of their well-being to increase their chances of living longer, adding that participation in physical activity was a preventative measure against different diseases.

The social clubs also donated food hampers to be distributed among the less privileged persons in Sehithwa, Legotlhwane, Bodibeng and Bothatogo.

Sehithwa VDC chairperson, Maletelo Molatlhiwa thanked social clubs for demonstrating love and compassion towards the needy persons and the community at large.

She acknowledged that the health campaign was a good move as health should always be a priority. 

She also noted that the food hampers would make a huge difference to the beneficiaries as many struggled to get a daily meal.

“Some have dependents who are now facing starvation because their parents cannot bring anything and your donation will indeed make a difference,” she added.

Molatlhiwa further noted that a healthy diet was advisable as it helped to protect against malnutrition and NDCs such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

A representative from Khoemacau Social Club, Kabelo Thari explained that their mandate as social clubs was not only to play soccer, but to make a positive impact in the lives of the community members.

He said they organised the tournament to raise money to assist four primary schools, adding that each social club identified a school to assist with the prize money. 

Each team, he said, also brought some food hampers to be donated to the needy society members.

In addition, Thari said they also saw it fit to bring on board health officials so that they could raise awareness on the importance of health issues as well as to give members of the community an opportunity to test for various diseases.

“As social clubs, we believe that our initiative will help members of the community to make healthy choices and live happier, healthier,” he added.

Meanwhile, Moremogolo Social Club was crowned the champion and walked away with P1 500, which was donated to Bothatogo Primary School while Sehithwa Social Club settled for position two and P1000 prize money, which was donated to Sehithwa Primary School.

Khoemacau and Bagaetsho got position three and four respectively and walked away with P750 each, which they donated to Bodibeng and Legotlhwane primary schools. ENDs