More than 450 young athletes from across the Overberg competed in the Indigenous Games District Tournament in Hawston last week.
The 467 participants from towns like Caledon, Grabouw, Hawston, Riviersonderend, Bredasdorp, Hermanus and Swellendam competed for a place in teams to represent the Overberg at the provincial games that will be held in Cape Town later this year.
The Indigenous Games event is annually organised by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports (DCAS) and features traditional games such as Morabaraba (a game similar to checkers), Diketo (klippies), Dibeki (also known as Nikkies or Skaloeloe), Drie Stokkies, Jukskei, Kgati (skipping), Ncuva, Iintonga (stick fighting) and Kho-kho (similar to tag).
Dibeke is a running ball game played by two teams of six boys and six girls each. The attacking team tries to kick the ball away from the defenders, while the defenders try to get the ball away from them using their hands. The attackers score when they have moved the ball down the entire length of the field.
Diketo is a game for two players. Each player throws one stone in the air and, before catching it with the same hand, tries to grab as many stones as possible from the small hole in the ground. The player with the most stones wins the game.
The athletes who were selected to represent the Overberg are:Dibeke (boys):
Bazola Statile (Grabouw), Mluleki Zimu (Bredasdorp), Gift Valtyn (Bredasdorp), Francois Ntlekana (Bredasdorp), Elodore Roedig (Riviersonderend), Nkulumo Ngqoqwa (Riviersonderend) and Camagu Manxiwa (Hermanus).Dibeke (girls):
Ayabonga Boy, Sinovuyo Mkwasi, Asiphe Mkwasi, Siphumelele Lusawana, Nwabisa Heke and Thembekazi Duba (all from Hermanus).Diketo:
Amyoli Kwinana (Bredasdorp), Imange Bhobho (Riviersonderend), Lukhona Gosa (Gansbaai) and Lilonka Dada (Riviersonderend).Drie Stokkies:
Cameron May (Myddleton), Nothando Zinganiso (Hermanus), Eden Jacobs (Riviersonderend), Mnatho Lereko (Riviersonderend), Unathi Manxiwa (Riviersonderend) and Vuyokazi September (Swellendam).Iintonga:
Njabulo Mqikela (Hermanus), Manelisi Max (Hermanus), Sethu Magushana (Hermanus), Zintle Mzinyathi (Hermanus), CJ Hlahla (Hawston) and Lwando Mbewu (Caledon).Jukskei development:
Renaldo Christiaans, Moegamat Hendricks, Antaria Geduld, Janique Wilbach (all from Hermanus) and Aden Faro, Hope Gibson, Chandré Sparks and Ruby Witbooi from Hawston.Kgati:
Emihle Rasana, Axolile Mfundisi, Siphe Bam, Sinothando Shumane, Azola Kibido and Phawoluhle Mjukleni (all from Hermanus).Kho-Kho (girls):
Ayola, Liviwe, Siphokazi, Eyam, Lusanda, Luhle, Ahlume, Othandwayo, Minentle, Sinentlahla and Maricine.Kho-kho (boys):
Karabo Lesuwa, Mbongeni Mbhabhabha, Shedwill Dyushu and Siyolise Cekiso from Bredasdorp, Justin le Roux, Ayabonga Jazo and Edore Roeding from Riviersonderend.Morabaraba:
Marchelouw Jacobs, Wonga Matrose and Ebrahim Fortuin from Grabouw, Lebohang Mtukane (Hermanus), Neliswa Yalelo and Simthandile Johannes (Bredasdorp).Ncuva:
Owan Fihla, Deneo Nele, Kimberley Nele and Siphelele Atole (all from Hermanus). The Provincial Indigenous Games will take place on 16 and 17 July in Cape Town and the Nationals will be held in Durban during Heritage week (22-24 September).
