Sibhamu

Sibhamu High School is located in the most rural area far north of KwaZulu-Natal, it is situated next to the border of two countries,ie Swaziland and Mozambique, which means that when one is at Sibhamu he/she is able to see different countries at the same time. Sibhamu is under Mathenjwa Tribal Authority and the name of the school derives from one of the chiefs of Mathenjwa clan. The school has got 562 learners plus secretary, groundsman, the coach, the cleaner and security. The learner and teachers are very friendly, disciplined and they all supportive to one another.

 

COMMUNITY:
As I have stated that the school is at the Tribal Authority, the community where the school is located, it always eager to know what is happening in its school. The community supports its school and it always wishes to see its school excelling in all aspect. That is why the community supports this women’s soccer project and seeing its children participating in the new sporting code because previously it was common that only boys engaged themselves in soccer.
 
WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM:
The team in the school is being supported by all teachers and learners. They even get extra time to do the practice, because in sports especially the new sporting code needs more time practicing it , so the parents  of these learners understand what is going on with  their children. Even in the absence of their coach other teachers take the responsibility to assist the team with practice. We challenge the neighboring schools for extra practice and to determine whether there is any improvement.

 
 
CHALLENGES:
As the coach of the women’s soccer team I encounter many challenges with the team. Challenges like sports equipment, sport attire and playing fields.
•         As we are the disadvantages school the sport field that we are using is not in good condition for the players to play in it. It is sloppy ground having long grass and mounds even though we try to cut the grass but one cannot play in it and we share it males because we don’t have our own ground.
•         On the issue of the sport equipment, it is a crisis, which is impossible to effective practice of a new sporting code. Whereas each must use her own ball for practicing many skills in soccer like dribbling, passing, running with the ball  and other skills.
•         On sports attire it is also a crisis. Most of the players do not have attire for practice, at least we are having one set that we use for a match. But the players are using their own skirts when they are practicing and do not have soccer boots. That causes a problem when playing a match because those players are not used to soccer boots, it becomes difficult even to shoot because they are not familiar with it.