The suspension of all close-contact sports in South African (SA) schools has led to uncertainty among Stellenbosch schools as to how the winter sports season will unfold.
This was according to Stephan Jordaan, the head of sport at Paul Roos Gymnasium. The Council of Education Ministers suspended all close-contact sports in SA schools on 19 May, after a rise in Covid-19 outbreaks due to school sports activity in Gauteng, according to a media release by the SA government.
The close-contact sports suspended by the South African government include hockey, rugby, soccer and netball. Schools are uncertain whether there will be any inter-school tournaments for the rest of the year, due to the unpredictability of Covid-19, according to Stephan Jordaan, the sports manager at Paul Roos Gymnasium. PHOTO: Erin Walls
“We were hoping to still have a bit of a [winter sports] season,” said Jordaan.
Inter-school contact sports tournaments have been postponed, and schools must now adapt to new training methods, according to Jordaan. Schools must find a way to maintain sports training without students being in physical contact with one another, he added.
“We have to keep on training because we might be able to play in July, and we can’t then say, ‘But we haven’t done anything in two months’,” said Jordaan.
Paul Roos Gymnasium’s Markötter rugby field in Stellenbosch, where all major rugby matches take place. PHOTO: Lara van Zyl
Students could miss out on tournaments that would normally be the highlight of the winter sports season, according to Samantha Henery, the head of sports at Rhenish Girls’ High School.
“Sports are a massive part of our school, and our girls love their sports,” said Henery in email correspondence with MatieMedia. “Sport teaches the girls about teamwork, dedication, determination, healthy living and communication skills,” she added.
Jordaan expressed concern that students might lose interest in sports training if they are not able to play matches.
“My child is very disappointed, but in the end, it’s for their own good and wellbeing,” said Mercia Adams, a Stellenbosch resident whose daughter plays soccer at Lückhoff High School.
The sports suspension, however, will not impact the scouting process for the Western Province (WP) Rugby Union, according to Danny Jones, the general manager of amateur rugby at WP Rugby Football Union. “The suspension does create a challenge, but it will not destitute the process,” said Jones.
The Department of Basic Education will continue to monitor the situation, according to the SA government media release.
It is currently unclear as to when close-contact sports will be allowed to continue. “That’s the thing about Covid, nobody knows what’s going to happen. There’s not even an indication,” said Stephan Jordaan, the sports manager at Paul Roos Gymnasium. INFOGRAPHIC: Lara van Zyl