Eleven pupils from Kuyasa Special School left for Pretoria this week to take part in the South African Schools championships.

Eleven pupils from Kuyasa Special School left for Pretoria this week to take part in the South African Schools championships.

One soccer, three netball and two basketball players and six cross country runners will represent the school at the five-day event hosted by the Department of Sport and Recreation in Tshwane.

Some 10 000 children are expected to take part in the 14 sporting activities. The national schools championship is currently in its third year.

Minister of Sport Fikile Mbalula said it is an important event in the development of sports in the schools. The school sports programme is part of government’s efforts towards the creation of an active and winning nation, he said.

“Today’s athletes need to be supported and their talent nurtured," he said.

Government believes that creating tomorrow’s legends will lead to sustainable social cohesion and nation building. Sport has a direct influence on academic performance, said Granville Whittle, deputy director-general for care and support at the Department of Basic Education.

“Learning becomes easier for kids who participate in sport because playing sport makes them healthy," he said.

"As a department, we support this programme. We value the importance of investing in administrators and coaches." sport@grocotts.co.za

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