Interview with Thabang Mphatoe from our partner orgaisation SCORE. He is working beside others as a handball coach at the Franschhoek Valley Community Sport Centre.

When and how did your relationship with Play Handball SA start?

I got to know Play Handball in 2017. We had a volunteer from Play Handball based at our community sport centre. In this year we went with our team as well to the Supercup in Cape Town. At the handball tournament we got lots of information about environmental awareness and as well learned new things about coaching. After he left, I took over as a coach and that where the relationship between me and Play Handball started.

With how many schools do your work? (Names of the schools)

Score is managing the Franschhoek Valley  Community Sport Centre. The centre is based in Groendal Franschhoek. We work with kids from the community, but not directly in schools.

How many kids do you reach through your work?

We work with kids that want to do handball. At the centre we have different sport codes and most kids do the sport that they are familiarize with.

How has Handball grown within your community since then?

It has grown huge and we have two teams of two mixed groups which are under 14 and under 16.

How is the response of the community and the schools so far?

The Community likes the fact that their kids are learning new things not only focusing on soccer, rugby or netball and they enjoy their kids playing with other kids.

What do you believe can handball do for the community?

Handball can change the community by offering not only another sport, but also by giving the youth more information how to keep their environment safely and also how to be safely in terms of recycling.

Any additional stories, comments or sentiments you’d like to share:

Nothing really. But I just like the fact that play handball is becoming more and more popular and I think we should have a handball league in our community. Let’s work together and we’ll make this thing work for the next generation.