As the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) marks the 26th anniversary of the World Teacher’s today with a theme: Leading in Crisis, Reimagining the Future”, Cape At 6 Sport salutes all Cape Town teachers who are using the power of sport to develop society, in most cases, under trying circumstances. Nceba Ernerst “Ace” Zondani, an educator at Zola Business School in Khayelitsha, is one of them.
Writes Myolisi Gophe
High schools’ sport in Cape Town has its own fair share of challenges, but when the challenges come from the ruling sporting bodies it becomes more catastrophic to the whole operation.
Having played, coached and now been involved in the administration of football for many years, Nceba Ernerst “Ace” Zondani has experienced that first hand. “The biggest challenge that really affects our progress is the fight between SAFA (South African Football Association) and SASFA (South African Schools Football Association). It’s been quite some time now and it affects learners in different ways.
“Like now, almost all our sponsors are running away from schools’ football. We had five different sponsors before but now are only left with one. Learners from disadvantaged families suffer due to this because when athletes are selected (to represent, districts, regions or the province) they must
contribute something to travel with teams, which means we don’t look only for talent when we are selecting teams. Affordability and talent have to go together, unfortunately”.
In addition to the SAFA-SASFA feud, the issue of skin colour is still a pervasive challenge in the diverse Western Cape, according to Zondani. “But we have managed to lead them because of the passion we have and full focus on developing a black child.”
Born in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, Zondani played football for various clubs and schools before moving to Cape to pursue his tertiary education at the University of the Western Cape. Upon his graduation he landed a teaching position at Zola Business School where he assisted the school to join Khayelitsha Schools Football.
His leadership acumen was soon noticed and he was elected as the chairperson of the Site C cluster and later as the president of the Khayelitsha Schools Football Zone in which he leads more than 50 primary and high schools. He was also elected as the chairperson of District East and runs football for four zones i.e Helderberg, Kraaifontein, Kuilsriver/Blue Downs and Khayelitsha.
He also serves in the Cape Town regional executive committee. “I’ve been coordinating a number of competitions in schools football, selecting and coaching teams in the Cape Town region. It gave me a
chance to grow as I attended a number of short coaching courses, including the D-License course under SAFA”.
Among the many highlights of his career was a trip to Italy with Isimemo saseKapa invitation team to coach in June 2019 and in September he travelled to Gauteng with the U/ 15 and U/19 teams. He was also pivotal to convince Mitchells-Plain schools to accommodate those from black African communities to play on their tournament as his school was part of Mr Price Schools Football Competition.
Zondani believes that there are many benefits of schools’ sport to learners and human development in general. “When we host big tournaments we invite scouts from big teams so that our learners can get opportunities to be identified”.
As much as the COVID-19 pandemic has given schools sport something to ponder to adjust to the changing world, the cancellation of amateur sport, including schools’ sport, has had a negative impact on learners, Zondani added. “Some learners are involved in drugs because they are always hanging around on the streets. They are using their energy in negative things as they stopped training and playing matches”.
