By Kopano Dibakwane
MEC for culture, sport and recreation in Mpumalanga-Thandi Shongwe, received the Netball World Cup trophy as it was officially handed over by Netball South Africa president-Cecilia Molokwane, deputy minister of sport, arts and culture-Nocawe Mafu and Morakanyane Masupyoe from Gauteng department of culture, sport and recreation.
The trophy landed at the Kruger International airport on 4 June and it’ll be touring the province until 8 June. A short programme was held to signal a hand over from Gauteng to Mpumalanga. The trophy tour will reach different areas in Mpumalanga including; Kanyamazane, Kabokweni, Malelane, Nelspruit taxi rank, Elukwatini shopping complex, Ermelo mall, Emalahleni, Phola mall, Dr JS municipality, Kameelrivier hall, Middleburg mall. Games, giveaways and accompanying activities will be held in all destinations during the tour.
MEC Thandi Shongwe said that Mpumalanga is excited to host the trophy.
” We have tried to ensure that the trophy visits every region in the province. We are confident that the excitement that goes with this kind of activation will go a long way to galvanise support primarily to our team, the Proteas and for the world cup tournament in general. People must come in numbers to see the trophy and for the exciting programme we have for them during the tour,” said Shongwe.
Netball South Africa president-Cecilia Molokwane thanked all sponsors and further encouraged young starts to take part in sports to keep them away from streets.
” I would like to thank all our official sponsors that have been with us through out, SPAR as one of them and I am proud to say that we have been through this journey for more than Twenty years ,this is not all about me but about the youngsters in the country. I would further love to thank the departments provincial and national for making everything possible”, she said .
The last day of the tour will be at Mathibela traditional authority, Dwaarsloop Mall and Acornhoek shopping complex, followed by an official handover to Limpopo.
The netball world cup will take place from 28 July to 8 August in Cape Town.
