After several different attempts-playing and hoping people would willingly join, advertising practices, etc.-we have decided to take a different approach. On September 24-26, we will be hosting Vezubuhle Community Sports Club's 1st Annual Volleyball Tournament in conjunction with an HIV testing drive. The people who get tested will be eligible for a raffle for a variety of prizes (which I still need to acquire), champions and runners-up will receive trophies, and everyone will receive a certificate of participation.
Since volleyball can be played by people of all ages and abilities it was chosen to be the focus of the first tournament. Although it is not very popular and nothing is organized, there are still a reasonable number of people who play. This tournament will introduce people to the sport of volleyball so that newly interested players can start practicing and will hopefully compete in next year's tournament. I don't expect a massive turnout-I may be pleasantly surprised or extremely overwhelmed if the opposite happens-but the purpose is to launch the idea and start the movement of sport as a social activity.
Drug/alcohol abuse and criminal activity is a huge problem here and the tournament and league will aim to provide people with a healthy, socially acceptable activity to pull people away from those types of activities. To further this cause, the event is being held at a primary school and alcohol is prohibited. Drunk players will be disqualified, drunk spectators will be turned away, and alcohol will not be allowed on the campus. Once competition is over, the people are free to drink as they wish off of the school grounds.
The tournament will include 7 brackets intended to reach all of the target demographics: secondary school boys/girls, primary school boys/girls, men, women, and coed. The tournament was meant to be for the villages within the Kwaggafontein and KwaMhlanga area. We started running an advertisement for the event on the regional radio station iKwekweziFM, and I am not sure what the coverage area is so I may be inundated with phone calls and have to turn people away. Turning people away wouldn't be so bad because it would show that there is a widespread interest in this type of league and I can encourage the Department of Sports and Recreation to take action.
The past week has been a rollercoaster of a ride in the way of planning. Up until last Friday I was under the impression that I would be able to use the new courts for the tournament. I was thrown for a loop when I was told I needed approval from the sports advisory committee of the school. Since the courts won't be done until tomorrow (they were due to be completed mid-July), the school never formed a team and we have been unable to use the courts. They decided that it would be unfair to allow the public to use it before the learners really got to play with it; which is a fair request.
The frustrating part is that I am constantly asked to adapt and change my plans but when something goes out of my control, no one is willing to adapt to make it easier for the plans to go smoothly.
The official ruling was handed down and confirmed today that they will not grant me permission to use the courts. As to not cause further friction, I accepted their declination and requested that we be able to host a netball tournament there this Summer (December); a plan I had formulated with the principal yesterday after it became apparent I would be denied use of the facilities. They said it required further discussion and planning but no one would give me an inkling of positivity that it would be allowed, we'll see.
Fortunately I was able to swing it right around and get it back on track in one day. I went to the other primary school and got approval from the Deputy Principal to use their school for the tournament and got positive feedback from the educators saying the were excited to host the tournament. Since there is only one volleyball court we need to build some temporary ones. I went to Build-it-a building supply store that has provided volunteers in the area with supplies for other projects-to request materials for the construction of temporary courts. They have promised to provide me with 6 poles, 24 eye hooks, and a few bags of cement to create the uprights. to complete the construction of the courts, I am going to borrow nets from the schools in the area. Build-it was even so gracious to promise to provide me with chalk to mark the lines for the courts. Hopefully I will be building these courts this weekend so I will have extra people to help me.
I have spoken with the Department of Health and they are very excited about the tournament. They will be providing us with the HIV testing technicians and a mobile clinic to assist any injured or ill participants.
My counterpart has arranged to have his sister's catering company cater the event. Instead of paying them a set rate for their services-since we don't have funds to give them-they will be selling their food to the community and a portion of the profits will go to the Sports Club to support future purchases of equipment and other things. He has also secured the DJ, who we have agreed to pay after we collect the entry fees. Accepting payment after completing work is rare in South Africa since most people require upfront payment.
The municipality has been on strike for the past couple of weeks so the support I was receiving from them (which was minimal at best) almost dissolved. They will, however, be providing us with a large tent for people to sit under and stay out of the sun.
The South Africa Police Service (SAPS) has pledged trophies, medals, and award volleyballs for the winners of each bracket. They are helping under the banner of "Sports Against Crime". They will also be providing security for the event to keep out rabblerousers and drunks.
The Department of Sports will be creating an official "Certificate of Participation" to be given to every athlete. Although I personally am not a huge fan of certificates of participation, they are a huge part of the culture. Since people don't voluntarily take part in activities (especially those requiring a fee) it is necessary to recognize it. Certificates give the people something to remember the event by and proudly display on their wall as an achievement.
The first raffle donation was a car outlet powered air compressor. It was given to me because the box was destroyed and the shop owner couldn't sell it; but it still works and is worth raffling off. Shoprite-the same chain from the U.S.-has expressed interest in donating some items for it too. When we get funds from registration fees, we will be able to buy more items and are awaiting some more donations.
I have invited some area volunteers to come help run the event. I may invite some of the Peace Corps staff since they are so close to my site but I may wait until the next tournament.
This may be a spectacular success but I am sure it won't be a complete failure. We will learn how to improve it and apply it to the next tournament (netball) which will be held in December.
Results to follow . . .
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