The countdown for the 2022 SALGA Games has officially begun with the massive sporting event set to positively impact Newcastle, Utrecht and Dannhauser in the coming days.
Taking place from 8 December 2022 until 11 December 2022, the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) – KZN Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (SADC) Games (SALGA Games) was officially launched over the past week.
With over 5 000 athletes from across KwaZulu-Natal set to descend on Newcastle and its two neighbouring towns, Newcastle Mayor and SALGA second Deputy Chairperson, Xolani Dube, highlighted that the games will provide a much-needed financial boost for local tourism and small businesses, many of which are still battling the effects of Covid-19.
“For us, the SALGA games are more than a competition on the field of play, they are about sports tourism and the opportunity to advertise our district to the outside world,” stated Dube.
Moreover, the Mayor pointed out that the games have also forced a need to pay greater attention to infrastructure in rural districts.
“These games have produced professional sport stars who have went on to represent KwaZulu-Natal and the country internationally,” he explained, adding this was why the Municipality had a vision to improve infrastructure in townships and rural areas, as to both find and nurture young talent.
With sporting scouts from neighbouring provinces also set to be in attendance, immense focus is currently placed on the sporting event.
Furthermore, the recent Launch and Draw which was led by SALGA KZN, KZN Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, Amajuba District Municipality, and its family of municipalities, namely Newcastle, Dannhauser and Emadlangeni (Utrecht) was met with elation.
According to the District Municipality’s Communications Department, the Launch and Draw marked the official start of these Provincial Games contested by young people from the 61 KwaZulu-Natal District Municipalities and Ethekwini Metro.
The event was opened by the Newcastle Mayor, Cllr Xolani Dube, who assured that the Amajuba District was fully prepared to welcome thousands of people to Newcastle, Utrecht and Dannhauser for the SALGA Games.
During the launch, the draw was concluded for the sporting codes football, volleyball, basketball and rugby.
The results of the highly anticipated draw in some sporting codes were as follows:
Netball Females
Group A
- Ethekwini Metro
- Umgungundlovu District
- Ilembe District
- Umkhanyakude District
- Umzinyathi District.
Group B
- King Cetshwayo District
- Zululand District
- uThukela District
- Ugu District
- Amajuba District
Football Males
Group A
- Umkhanyakude District
- uThukela District
- Zululand District
- Umgungundlovu District
Group B
- King Cetshwayo District
- Umzinyathi District
- Ethekwini Metro
Group C
- Ilembe District
- Ugu District
- Amajuba District
Football Females
Group A
- Ethekwini Metro
- Amajuba District
- uThukela District
- King Cetshwayo District
Group B
- Ilembe District
- Umzinyathi District
- Umkhanyakude District
Group C
- Umgungundlovu District
- Zululand District
- Ugu District
Basketball Males
Group A
- Ethekwini Metro
- Umgungundlovu District
- King Cetshwayo District
- Umzinyathi District
- Ugu District
Group B
- Zululand District
- Amajuba District
- Ilembe District
- uThukela District
Volleyball Males
Group A
- Ethekwini Metro
- Umgungundlovu District
- Amajuba District
- Umzinyathi District w
- Ugu District
Group B
- Ilembe District
- Umkhanyakude District
- uThukela District
- King Cetshwayo District
Adding to this, the Amajuba District Municipality’s Communications Unit said, “In total, the Districts will be competing in the following confirmed sporting codes: netball, athletics, basketball, swimming, indigenous games, chess, karate, rugby, dance, boxing, volleyball and football.”
As an immense influx of people from around KZN prepare to flock to Newcastle, what are your thoughts on the above-mentioned? Share your views in the comment section below.
