WeeklySA_AdminSOCIAL COHESION: Former top Orlando Pirates goalkeeper ploughs back to his Soweto community while raising awareness about GBV issues
By Ali Mphaki
When he came back from Malawi in 1965 he landed late on Christmas Eve and did not have the ‘traditional’ new clothes for Xmas the following day.
The only available decent attire for him was a suit he last wore four years ago and it was obvious he had spectacularly outgrown it.
Everybody laughed at him in his shrunk suit as he made his way to join his White City, Soweto, homeboys he had not seen in years on that Christmas Day. If ever there was a time he became a village joke this was it.
Fast forward to the weekend of August 19, 2024, the former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Patson Sparks Banda is once more wearing a suit – this time a perfect fit. No one is laughing at him because he is the star of the show. He had pulled a mission no one in his community has done in recent times.
Using his influence Banda in collaboration with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, had organised a two-day soccer tournament at the Jabavu stadium, which stands next to his home.
Eight under 18 boys soccer teams were in competition. all vying for bragging rights, medals and the winners trophy. For the past 20 years Banda has been living in Durban and he feels its time for him to relocate back to Gauteng. His wife a school principal passed on three years ago. “By organising this tournament its a way of advertising my coming back to Gauteng,” he says.
“But more importantly and in line with the department’s social cohesion programme thought it would be wise to spread the message of gender-based-violence through sport. No one can deny the power of sport in bringing people together hence this tournament,” says Banda..
The message was loud and clear with players jerseys emblazoned with messages like “Real Men Don’t Abuse. Stop GBV”.
A crowd of close to a thousand people were in tow, mostly children, and apart from the music and football, also enjoyed free meals and soft drinks.
Arts and culture personnel said they were excited to partner with Banda in spreading awareness about the scourge of gender-based-violence. Sport, they said, has the power to unite and was hopeful the message “Real Men Dont Abuse and Stop GBV’ will resonate with especially the young men in attendance and beyond.
Also present at the tournament was Spark’s former colleagues at Pirates, Tebogo Moloi and the jocular Eddie “MaGents” Motale, among others. The final was a thrilling affair though nearly spoiled by the bumpy uneven pitch making control of the ball difficult. But as for the penalties, all except the last one which was saved, were delivered with style and panache. Banda said he hopes this tournament will be an annual affair and called upon the private sector to support the initiative.
“Next year we looking at introducing women football teams in the tournament as well so as to be all inclusive and all gender sensitive,” he said..
Now that he is back in Gauteng, Banda could not divulge his plans further save to say he is back home and wants to start several businesses.
He says he can never forsake his first love of football and all we can do is watch this space!
