The Rep 13 May 2022

THE REPRESENTATIVE 13 May 2022 Tel: (045) 839-4040 / editorial: mjekulal@therep.co.za / advertising: charodinev@therep.co.za 11
SPORT SCENE
graphic © liudmyla pushnova / 123RF.com
Cricket hub vital to
develop local stars
Chris Hani leadership conflict in focus during Border roadshow
EXTRA SUPPORT: A child with a learning disability cannot try
harder, pay closer attention or improve their motivation on
their own Picture: SUPPLIED
How to recognise
c h i l d re n ’s learning
disabilities, how
to give support
WAY FORWARD: At the Eastern Cape Border Cricket roadshow meeting in Komani recently, front left, are Mfundo Macanda,
Border Cricket president Simphiwe Ndzundzu, Lonwabo Dinge, back from left, Sonwabiso Sitofile, Noxolo Kalolo, Viwe Yawa,
Phelele Jantjies, Bongiwe Kedama and Mthuthuzeli Tenjwa Picture: SUPPLIED
ABONGILE
S O L U N D WA N A
Plans to establish a cricket hub
in Komani were some of the
discussions that formed part of
the Border Cricket roadshow
meeting with Chris Hani Cricket
Association executive
committee and district coaches
in Komani recently.
Chris Hani Border Cricket
president, Simphiwe
Ndzundzu, said launching a
cricket hub in Komani would
play a crucial role in bringing
required cricket development in
the district.
TRAIL BLAZERS
“Chris Hani is a big region; a
lot of successful players were
produced here.
“This is where the best
players from ten Chris Hani
schools can be taken and
c o a ch e d .
“The coach will get paid,
have programmes to play locally
and against other hubs in the
p r ov i n c e ,” Ndzundzu said.
The other business of the day
was to establish wh a t
programme the district had in
place and to report on new
developments in Border Cricket.
“We also want to find out
what their challenges are for us
to be able to assist by also
engaging various stakeholders
such as the department of
education, municipalities,
umpires and schools where
n e e d e d .”
However, Ndzundzu said
the main goal was to deal with
leadership conflict in the Chris
Hani Cricket Association, where
a second structure had
emerged.
He said before Border
C r i ck e t ’s AGM was conducted
in July, the requirement was for
all regions to have conducted
theirs beforehand.
“However, some people
want to form another structure,
which we do not recognise as
Border Cricket, we recognise
the one that conducted the
AGM which is led by Viwe
Yawa .
“If there are people facing
difficulties, we want to resolve
them.
“We want our structures to
focus on cricket and not on
fighting about leadership
positions that do not help the
children to develop.
“Our interest is to have
youth from Chris Hani playing
in border cricket, and from there
for South Africa,” he said.
SETTLED:
Members of
the Komani
walking group,
The Tribe, took
part in the
Blanco Trail
Run and
completed the
10km distance
in the Tarka
district on
S a t u rd a y
P i c t u re :
SUPPLIED
JENNY WEBB
A learning disability cannot be
fixed or cured. Depending on
the type or severity of the
disability, interventions may be
used to help the individual learn
strategies that will culminate in
success. Social support is a
crucial factor in the overall
programme to assist these
pupils.
A child with a learning
disability cannot try harder, pay
closer attention or improve their
motivation on their own. They
need extra help. Learning
disorders are not a problem with
intelligence. They are caused
by a difference in the brain that
affects how information is
received, processed or
communicated. One of the
manifestations of such problems
is sensory deficits.
One of science’s greatest
discoveries in recent years is
that of neuroplasticity. This
refers to the brain’s capacity to
change and form new
connections and generate new
brain cells in response to
experience and learning.
Here are some suggestions
for parents on how to deal with
the challenges that arise with
children who are diagnosed
with learning disabilities.
Keep things in perspective;
Be an advocate for your child:
remember they only have you in
their corner.
Continually seek to update
your knowledge of the problem.
Only accept advice from
reputable sources.
Be cautious of Google.
Remain positive and optimistic.
Keep an open mind.
Focus on strengths NOT
weaknesses.
Motor difficulties:
These refer to problems with
movement and coordination.
Gross motor skills refer to
physical abilities such as
running, jumping, hopping and
skipping. Fine motor skills refer
to hand-eye coordination and
smaller movements.
Language difficulties:
This can be seen in problems
with fluency of speech,
semantics (understanding of
words) and the recognition of
context.
Reading difficulties:
There are two main types of
disabilities in this area. One is
the mechanical decoding of
sound and letter combinations.
Reading comprehension
problems occur when there is
an inability to grasp the
meaning of the words,
sentences or paragraphs.
Maths difficulties:
These can occur due to a visual
disorder, for example
perception of shape or form.
They can also arise due to
problems with numerical
sequencing, memory,
organisation, etc.
Writing difficulties:
● 1. Neatness of letter
formation and fluidity of letter
combinations.
● 2. Writing organisation and
coherence.
● 3. Spelling consistency.
● 4. Transcription (accurate
copying from the board or a
book).
Auditory and visual
p ro c e s s i n g :
Auditory processing skills are
often referred to as “r e c e p t ive
language”. Inability to
distinguish subtle differences in
sounds may hamper the basic
concepts of reading. P
roblems with visual
perception include reversing
letters and numbers, skipping
words or lines, misperception of
depth and distance as well as
hand-eye coordination.