SKATING AWAY FROM BAD INFLUENCES

By Tshego Mokone

A group of 17 youngsters named The Black Crows are a potential filled skateboarding team from Soshanguve, they started skating as a hobby and a way to refrain from the negative township lifestyle. They have grown in stature and now compete in Pretoria skateboarding competitions such as the Mountain Dew Tour.

Without proper facilities and resources, these teenagers manage to get together daily and practice at Kopanong Station inSoshanguve. Immense effort is being put in by the current squad develop a bigger team of the unpopular sport in order to recruit their peers from the detrimental substance abuse that is witnessed in townships today amongst the youth as well as motivate each other to focus on academics.

“At the moment we use the old taxi rank here in Kopanong to practice. We skate because we are passionate about the sport and for the reason that it helps us to steer away from the bad influences that we can get exposed to while we are not doing anything in our free time.” said ThatoRapoo, a senior of the group.

The Crows have one female member thus far, who calls upon more ladies to join the movement and become active in pre-dominantly male sports such as skating. “The ladies should expect a bit of bruises but it is worth it, being involved in active sports has great benefits such as keeping fit and for my case, improving the level of gender equality within sports.” said LesegoMasango.

Parents embrace the idea of teenagers being exposed to sports because it brings a graet sense of responsibility within the youth. “Sports does not only keep them busy but it also teaches them to be responsible and take care of their bodies as well as staying focused in whatever they do in life.” concluded a parent, Martha Mathabathe from Soshanguve.

The groups continues to recruit young people with interest, as some of the members joined without any knowledge and experience on the board but are now training like professionals.