Leemisa Thuseho
LOCAL volleyball, basketball and netball teams will next week host a three-day tournament to raise awareness against gender-based violence (GBV) and cyberbullying.
Dubbed the No to GBV and Cyberbullying Tournament, the sporting fiesta will be held at Lehakoe Recreational and Cultural Centre, in Maseru.
The event will also be used as a charity tournament to collect school supplies donations for underprivileged learners from various schools.
One of the organisers, Tumelo Mara, who is also the head coach of the Lerotholi Polytechnic basketball team, said the tournament was meant to educate young athletes and communities about the dangers of GBV and cyberbullying.
“We have organised the tournament to educate our young athletes and communities GBV,” Mara said.
“As for cyberbullying, we want to teach the nation that they must always be careful of what they post on social media to avoid causing any harm to other people’s lives or cause threat, embarrassment or humiliation. We must be careful about what we post on social networks.”
Previously, the event was held purely as a back-to-school charity tournament but they have decided to do it differently.
“This year, we are hoping to curb the high rate of GBV and cyberbullying,” Mara said.
The games will be preceded by a GBV and cyberbullying awareness walk around the Maseru central business district.
“We are hoping to have speeches from the police, the Gender, Youth, Sport and Recreation Minister and other stakeholders in the fight of the GBV and cyberbullying.”
The tournament is open to all teams despite including those that may not be registered national federations.
While preparations are now at an advanced stage, Mara said they were still concerned about the lack of sponsors and therefore called on businesses to partner them.
The deadline for teams’ registration is next Wednesday.