A youth league official called for using sports to directly fight gender based violence during a community soccer event in Parys. Dikgang Parker, the ANC Youth League deputy chairperson for the Free State, spoke at the Edgar Legoale Festive Soccer Tournament. The tournament is happening at Mandela Sports Ground in Tumahole.
He framed sports as a critical tool for social change, not just games. Parker told the crowd that community violence and gender based violence represent a serious social sickness. He pushed for activities like this tournament to give young people an alternative to crime and abusive behavior. The event itself draws teams from multiple provinces and offers a sizable cash prize.
Parker connected the soccer games to larger national anti-violence movements, like the recent Purple Movement. He emphasized that preventing abuse requires building community cohesion and providing mental health support. The tournament aligns with broader activism campaigns, aiming to sustain that message locally. Its organizers seek to tackle issues like substance abuse and unemployment alongside promoting athletic talent.
He framed sports as a critical tool for social change, not just games. Parker told the crowd that community violence and gender based violence represent a serious social sickness. He pushed for activities like this tournament to give young people an alternative to crime and abusive behavior. The event itself draws teams from multiple provinces and offers a sizable cash prize.
Parker connected the soccer games to larger national anti-violence movements, like the recent Purple Movement. He emphasized that preventing abuse requires building community cohesion and providing mental health support. The tournament aligns with broader activism campaigns, aiming to sustain that message locally. Its organizers seek to tackle issues like substance abuse and unemployment alongside promoting athletic talent.
