When we speak of edutainment, we in a great many cases align it with the traditional forms of art and in the process overlook the importance of sport as a tool that can be actualised in the instigation of community development.
Schools are closed and we are, and have been gripped and grappled by the frenzy of elections — especially for those of the voting age.
But what of the school children and adolescents? Do we consider the importance of their curricular and extracurricular activities? Are parents and guardians considerate to the needs of their children, and how these needs influence and affect their development particularly extra-curricular activities?
Rugby is one such important sport that has an edutaining effect on the player.
This is so because during the game, players will learn how to make tricky decisions which will in turn help them to gain confidence as they learn the rules of the game.
Through rugby, children can develop the capability to analyse and deduce general principles in life which can in turn boost their mental, social and physical agility.
A conversation with Bernard Njaravani, is a Milton High school student and rugby player opened up deep horizons in me of how to follow rugby within the context of high schools and seeing how it forges team building and personal development.
After watching rugby, I can attest that the sport is more complex than football and offers a greater variety of ways to score points. In football, scoring one goal is often all that is necessary for the team to win. Rugby allows for many different types of victories, making it a more exciting game to watch.
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“I am student at Milton High School and in Upper 6, doing commercial subjects which include Business Enterprise Skills, Economics and Pure Mathematics. I am a prefect part of the ZIMPAHAC (Zimbabwe Partner and Help a Child) a prefects’ assembly which aims on helping the youth in the community and the less privileged children,” Njaravani said.
“Our School rugby team name is the Milton Elephants and its ethos and principles include concepts like fair play and sportsmanship. This is also driven by hard work and dedication, teamwork and camaraderie. Respect for opponents and officials is what we learn and an important factor is pride in representing the team and community.
"These principles are often embodied in a team's motto which is also the school motto. They are also important for creating a positive culture and supporting the success of the team”.
Njaravani said he was interested in sport because it was a great way to stay active and healthy. This was premised on the fact that he enjoys the competitive aspect of sport, and he loves the feeling of accomplishment that comes with mastering a new skill. Njaravani also appreciates the teamwork and camaraderie that comes with playing on a team and also how sports a source of living.
“What ZIMPAHAC does is that it carries out awareness campaigns like the drug abuse which is a killer of potential and careers amongst the youth and the community. It seeks to show the youth that there is much more about life besides taking drugs and it also fights for children rights, like fighting against child marriages. ZIMPAHAC also helps the less privileged in the community by assisting less privileged children through the donations they get from well-wishers," he said.
Rugby is a sport that incalcates discipline and rigor which is also reflective in the everyday life activities and the forms of expression that drive us.
Njaravani acknowledged how sporting had helped him to be disciplinedto achieve success.
He wanted to grow into a successful sportsman.
“My plan is to continue improving my skills and to compete at a higher level. I have ambitions to win championships and to become the best athlete I can be. Ultimately, I want to inspire others through my success and show them that anything is possible with hard work and dedication,” said Njaravani.
Realising the need to also focus on his school work, Njaravani also has an ambition to pursue Business Analysis and Management studies while also building his rugby career.
“A business analyst can help a rugby team with identifying and analysing trends in player performance, predicting player injury risks and in the process also developing strategies for improving team performance. Business management skills can also be useful for rugby players and academics, as they can help with goal setting and achievement," Njaravani said.
From his responses it can be outlined the importance of merging children’s extra-curricular activities and how this can further influence their futuristic careers.
For example, Njaravani further explained how his aspirations to become a business analyst would help develop the sport of rugby because of enhancing good organisational skills to make it a profitable and also well managed sport so that it can reach deeper levels internationally.
The business analysis skills help in time management, dealing with stress and pressure and how these skills can help athletes and students perform at their best and achieve their goals.
Rugby can be viewed from the perspective of a business which requires analysis and management, strong communication, critical thinking, and decision-making skills. They also involve working with people from different backgrounds and departments, as well as managing projects and resources. In my perspective, the Zimbabwean rugby sphere has to invest deeply in the potential of the students and pupils in primary and secondary schools.
“In rugby I am a Blind side Flanker wearing the jersey number six and the roles of a flanker in rugby include tackling the opposition and helping to win possession of the ball. The flanker plays a role in providing support in rucks and mauls. This is also a position that involves counter-rucking and poaching the ball from the opposition and attacking with the ball and supporting teammates. This also requires one to be covering the open side and blind side defending against the opposition," he further outlined.
Being part of a team can be an exciting and rewarding experience. It can provide a sense of belonging, support, and camaraderie that is not always found in other settings.
There are many benefits to being part of a team, including working towards a common goal and importantly learning from, and supporting teammates which is what the internet generation of children and adolescents face.
For the children and adolescents, there is a need to build friendships and bonds, and this can be actualised through experiencing the joy of victory and the lessons of defeat. Developing personal and professional skills is also of importance.
- Raymond Millagre Langa is a musician, orator, writer and the founder of Indebo Edutainment Trust Follow Millagre Ray Langa on Facebook #Millagre Ray L, e-mail millagrepapaito@gmail.com. You can reach out to Indebo Edutainment Trust on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter indebotrust@gmail.com
