The words of the former National Minister of Sport Mr. Fikile Mbalula, rang true when speaking during the return of the 2012 South African Olympic team. He said: “ We need to establish a production house for sport and that production house starts at school level.”
In the same year 2012, Hoërskool Vaalrivier in Barkly West, approached Wildeklawer for assistance with sports development at the school. Louis and Cora de Kock, owners of Wildeklawer supported the idea but put up a condition that all the schools in Barkly West would benefit from such an initiative.
When considering that Barkly West has a population of close to 40 000 inhabitants but with six schools that lack proper sporting facilities, coaches and equipment, it was an idea that was immediately enthusiastically supported.
A planning meeting led to all the school principals and the Dikgatlong Local Municipality buying into the idea of a sports academy. The sports academy would strive to develop sport and further expose talented learners to compete against traditional stronger sporting schools.
Development of specific sports and the subsequent personal growth of the participating learners from all ethnic groups in the Barkly West community formed the mission of what would be known as the Wildeklawer School Sports Academy (WSSA).
As its vision and values, the WSSA holds up that which is contained in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Other values that are taught, encouraged and rewarded are honesty and integrity, professionalism and commitment, morality and mutual respect, loyalty, consistency and transparency.
Clear goals were set namely to offer opportunities to sportsmen and women to participate in a wide range of sporting events and to empower coaches and team managers to qualify and train with the best possible methods. Spectators have been encouraged to attend local matches where teams participate actively. Coordinated facilities, equipment, team uniforms and management thereof form the backbone of the WSSA.
Although many different sports were mooted at the launch of the initiative it has come down to three main sporting codes being actively pursued namely soccer, rugby and netball. Overseeing the initiative is a full-time sports coach Mr. Danie Smith who was appointed in 2013
Now in its fifth year, the success of the WSSA is evident for all to see. In 2013, a soccer tournament was held where many strong soccer-playing schools in the district attended. By 2015, three soccer teams were actively involved in Northern Cape leagues and doing well.
There has been remarkable growth in netball which had started from a reasonably strong base in 2013 when the WSSA under-19 team won the league and represented the Northern Cape Development Schools at the South African Schools championships, attaining a credible fourth place.
By 2015 there were no fewer that eight teams from under-14 to under-19 with further representation at provincial level.
Rugby at WSSA had distinguished itself in both the 15-man as the 7-man codes. 2013 saw the return of this first under-19 team in some 13 years for the 15-man code. In Sevens rugby the WSSA under-14 team won their age group in the Abass Sevens tournament that year at their first outing.
By 2015, WSSA boasted four teams in the 15-man code and its under-16’s won both the 15-man and Sevens leagues. Two WSSA players went on to represent Griquas in the under-15 and under-19 teams respectively.
The establishment and success of the WSSA can be seen as having the same ethos and vision as that of Wildeklawer. Two people’s love for and commitment to the well-being of their fellow man, their immediate community and above all, the future of its future citizens, the children.