November - Department of Defence

sportAnchoring friendshipthrough sportBy L Cpl Ally RakomaPhotos: F Sgt DavidNomtshongwanaThe Directorate Physical Training,Sport and Recreation successfullyhosted the bilateralmilitary games between theSANDF and the ZimbabweDefence Force at AFBHoedspruit in Limpopo inSeptember 2008.The SANDF team was representedby the Limpopo region with playersfrom ASB Polokwane, AFB Makhado,15 SA Infantry Battalion, AFBHoedspruit, 5 Special Forces Regimentand 7 SA Infantry Battalion. The stagingof such events has proved to be atool to foster the motto of CISM:Friendship through sport.The SANDF teams participated invarious sporting codes, namely golf,pool, tennis, soccer, volleyball andtug-of-war. The SANDF defeated theirZimbabwean counterparts in variousentertaining encounters.The Chief delegate from SouthAfrica, Brig Gen Aubrey Sedibe, theDirector Physical Training, Sport andRecreation, in his address during theprize-giving ceremony could not havesaid it better when he spoke about asubject close to his heart (sport). Hesaid that soldiers meeting in thesports arena contribute to the greatervalue to save the world. "The aim ofhosting this bilateral military games is,among others, to create friendshipthrough sport. It is not about winning,but participation and sport can beregarded as a theatre of dreams," saidBrig Gen Sedibe.After all the formalities, musicaltered the moods of the audience asthe SA Army Band from ASBPolokwane kept them on their toeswith stirring sounds.ResultsGolf:Pool:Tug-of-war: The SANDF teamcontinues to pile on the pressure.A thrilling soccer match betweenthe SANDF (yellow/green) andZimbabwe (blue).1st place - SANDF2nd place - Zimbabwe1st place - SANDF2nd place - Zimbabwe40Tennis:1st place - SANDF2nd place - ZimbabweVolleyball: 1st place - Zimbabwe2nd place - SANDFSoccer:1st place - Zimbabwe2nd place - SANDFTug-of-war: 1st place - SANDF2nd place - ZimbabweThe SANDF volleyball team (red/blue) connecting well duringa volleyball game against the Zimbabwean team (red).S A S O L D I E R • NO VEMB ER 2 0 0 8OVERALL WINNER: SANDF