By Gofaone Motsamai

Fifty learners from a primary school in Mahikeng are putting their best feet forward after the Staff Sports Club on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus donated school shoes.

The team won the annual Employee Charity Soccer Tournament hosted by the Badiri Wellness League, in partnership with Sanlam. By winning, they earned the privilege of choosing which school should receive a donation of 50 pairs of school shoes, and the team chose Lokaleng Primary in Mahikeng.

Sixteen teams from institutions and departments across the Mmabatho area participated in the tournament, united by the common goal of giving back to the community through school shoe donations. Each team contributed pairs of shoes, with the winning team earning the right to select the beneficiary school.

The knockout-style tournament culminated in a high-energy showdown between the top four teams: the NWU Mahikeng Staff Sports Club, Taletso FET College, South African Police Services (SAPS) and FC Educators.

The NWU Staff Sports Club defeated Taletso FET College before overcoming SAPS in a closely contested final to claim the championship.

Winning on and off the field

At a ceremony held at Lokaleng Primary in August to hand over the shoes, Prof Daniel Metsileng, deputy director of the School of Economic Sciences, praised the initiative. "This tournament shows that sports can be a powerful tool for community engagement. Beyond winning on the field, our staff have contributed to the well-being of young learners, reinforcing the importance of giving back and creating positive social impact."

The school’s principal Jack Tlhabang expressed gratitude for the donation. "We are truly honoured to have been chosen. These shoes will go a long way in restoring dignity and confidence among our learners. We thank the NWU Staff Sports Club, Badiri Wellness League, Sanlam and all the stakeholders involved for this generous and thoughtful gesture."

Sanlam officials praised the tournament and reaffirmed their commitment to future initiatives that empower communities.

The Badiri Wellness League extended appreciation to all teams, sponsors and community members, noting that the true victory lies in the smiles of children walking into school with pride and confidence.

The NWU Mahikeng Staff Sports Club hands over school shoes to learners at Lokaleng Primary after their charity tournament triumph.