Proceeds from the Ikageng Barolong December Soccer Tournament held this past weekend, will build two houses for the less privileged in Ramatlabama village.
chairperson for Ikageng Barolong Society, Moses Molelowatladi revealed that money raised from team contributions, stock takings, and stall sales at the tournament will buy building materials. He shared that in the past they have spent money from their pockets to assist the less privileged, something that made the society to look at them as hope givers. He said socioeconomic development matters the most to their society as they believe in uplifting lives and promoting dignity. When this society was launched, his concern was the wellbeing of the elderly and children within Ramatlabama village. He said they saw they need to raise funds to continue improving lives and they are happy the event was successful. He hopes the event becomes an annual fixture, saying this would help them to help the less privileged in different ways . "All funds go straight to cement and other essentials," Molelowatladi said.
Event coordinator Malebogo Modise echoed the excitement, saying despite weekend rains, turnout was strong. South African guests Pollen Trompies Ndlanya and Shakes Manqoba attended and praised the society's community efforts. "It was our first big event like this, but it succeeded big time," Modise said.
Beyond housing, the society plans to also groom the boy child in the region. Modise shared that boys are often overlooked while girls receive ample support. "We've seen boys bottling up psychological issues because platforms are scarce," she said. "We're grooming village lads, guiding them through social challenges, and offering mental support, especially since abuse victims stay silent."
She added that they will host boot camps for boys to teach them about responsible manhood and community behavior.
The group also wishes to upgrade Ramatlabama Primary School's soccer and netball grounds, by developing the play grounds. “Sport builds discipline, hones talent, and forges careers," Modise explained. "Excelling at sports also raises our nation's flag and breaks poverty cycles. So we want to invest in this field to shape a better future for the children in this area,” she said
