Ministry to promote sport in schools

SPORTS and Recreation Minister Makhosini Hlongwane said they are discussing strategies of promoting sport in schools starting next year.

Hlongwane said this at an HIV and cancer prevention Pro-Am golf tournament press brief held at Royal Harare yesterday.

"My ministry has a deliberate strategy of promoting sports in schools as part of the curricula.

"This strategy is anchored on our belief that sport can, among other things, promote a healthy lifestyle and offer alternative occupation for those that excel.

"It is our hope that as the children grow into adulthood they can maximise on the health benefits of sport that they learn in schools.

"I want to commend the initiative by the National Aids Council to engage in a fundraising activity while highlighting the central connection between sport and health.

"We need such initiatives not for golf only but for all sport.

"I am appealing to Nac and other related entities to roll out such a concept to all other sports and communities so that all our people can benefit from the advantages of participating in sports for health," said Hlongwane.

The tournament will see Claire Minter make history by becoming the first female professional to compete in a male dominated field when she takes part in the tournament set for tomorrow.

The event will see several top professionals taking part in the three-day event beginning tomorrow and finishing on Friday.

Minter, who had hung up her clubs, returned to the sport this year and is doing well.

The tournament will see players like Marc Cayuaex, Stephen Ferreira, Tongo Charamba and Garry Thompson also taking part.