MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Sport and having enough food to eat play a tremendous role in keeping children away from committing crime.
This is according to football team owner and tournament organiser Edgar Ntebe. He owns Young Stars FC.
Over the past two weeks a tournament has taken place on the extensions 8 and 23 fields. “We had 300 to 400 children there on a day,” he explains.
Edgar says there have been complaints from KwaNonqaba Mall about children shoplifting. “I want to keep the children away from the mall,” he says.
He is no stranger to the effects of crime on the community. A court interpreter by profession and holding the positions of chairman of the KwaNonqaba Community Policing Forum and deputy chair of the Garden Route Primary school governing body, Edgar has witnessed the negative effects of crime and anti-social behaviour time and again.
Ntebe is employed as an interpreter at the Mossel Bay District Court. Edgar points out: "The juvenile jail in Mossel Bay is full. We can't have more children going there."
That is why he so urgently wants to prevent crime. “The children steal chocolates and other items from the shops at the mall. When they are caught, they give the names of their football coaches and then the shops complain to us.”
Edgar Ntebe Photo: Linda Sparg
Edgar says he is extremely grateful for sponsorship that enabled him to organise the football tournament over the past two weeks. “I thank Mr Len of Bay Loans for his generosity. He has given money for the tournament which allowed us to buy lunches for the children and more.
“Bay Loans has been sponsoring soccer for years. It has been ongoing and they are giving a lot. Every Saturday and Sunday from 08.30 to 18:00 the children play soccer at the Extension 23 grounds. Everyone can see them there. They are along the Louis Fourie Road. If we cannot feed the children, they go to Shoprite to steal.”
Edgar says he is also grateful to the Mossel Bay Local Football Association, which has a league competition, for giving permission for him to organise the football tournament over the past two weeks.
The finals are taking place on Sunday at Extension 8. Edgar thanked the Mossel Bay Advertiser for supporting his community-building efforts since 2009.
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