SuperSport in partnership with the Department of Basic Education, Sport and Recreation South Africa, the Physical Education Institute of South Africa and UNICEF SA, launched the Let’s Play Physical Education Challenge in 2015 and continued this initiative in 2016, with the primary objective to reinforce the instruction of curriculum-oriented Physical Education and to promote physical activity in all primary schools. In what is arguably one of the biggest school’s fitness programmes in South Africa, the Let’s Play Physical Education Challenge, aimed at 10 year olds, reached more than 600 000 learners in 651 primary schools across all nine provinces in the country.

The school adjudged to be the fittest primary school in the country participating in the Challenge in 2016, was Rosendal Intermediate School in Upington, Northern Cape. As the winning school, they won the grand prize of a R1.3 million multi-purpose sport court, courtesy of The Sports Trust. The court has already been installed at the school.

SuperSport, which has a strong sporting influence within the South African market, identified that there are huge issues severely inhibiting the development of children through skills learned by playing, physical education and sport – all of which are imperative to the holistic development of children

“Children are faced with many negative influences due to a lack of social engagement and opportunities for play. This sports facility can make a significant difference in lifestyle and behaviour change and provide both hope and purpose to the children of this community,” said SuperSport’s Regulatory Director, Graham Abrahams.

“We believe that this is a meaningful way to get schools involved in physical activity, particularly as government has highlighted the need for children to become more active,” said Vaughn Bishop, Head of Let’s Play. “Kids needn’t be superstars; the challenge is designed to accommodate everyone at primary school level.”

The multi-purpose sport court makes provision for five sporting codes, including 5 a side soccer, netball, basketball, volleyball and tennis in a bid to drive the development of sports and healthy activities in and around the surrounding communities.

 “The Sports Trust is proud to support this programme that has touched the lives of so many children, both abled and disabled. This competition ensures that together we are able to nurture, develop and transform our future sporting talent. The state-of-the-art multi-purpose sport court facility being awarded as the prize to the overall winning school will ensure that we can continue to enhance our children’s education through sport,” said Anita Mathews, Executive Director of the Sports Trust.

“It is truly an honour to be involved with such an initiative that seeks to grow and build our country through educating children about the importance of being active and healthy. At Steers we recognise that this is an incredible opportunity to give children the necessary tools to play and exercise. After all, a healthy body builds a health mind,” said Adolf Fourie, Marketing Executive for Steers.

Most of the learners from Rosendal Intermediate come from the impoverished Alcohol and drug abuse are rife in our community. The learners perform moderately well academically and the school has a well-driven sport and cultural program. Sports participation includes netball, soccer (boys and girls), rugby, table tennis and indigenous games. the school choir and other cultural activities. Our trophy cabinet boasts of accolades in most of these activities. Many of our learners were taken up in district- and provincial teams.

“Winning the 2016 Let’s Play Physical Education Challenge was truly the cherry on top of a very successful year for our learners’’, said the school Principal Miss Ellen Allies.

 This year’s Let’s Play Physical Education Challenge will engage with more than 1 500 Primary schools, doubling the participation to that of last year.