The beautiful game is giving inmates a shot at living normal lives when they are released.
A new prison rehabilitation programme by the department of correctional services called the Gauteng Offender Soccer Development League was launched on Tuesday at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre in Pretoria.
Itumeleng Mogorosi‚ one of the prisoners participating in the league‚ said soccer is something he grew up playing. “I still love it and I think that if I was given the chance to go out‚ I would be able to help youngsters to not make the same mistakes that led me to be here‚” he said.
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The sport is set to rehabilitate the prisoners by having them trained in skills such as refereeing‚ coaching and administration.
James Smalberger‚ chief deputy commissioner of the department of correctional services‚ said the reason behind using sport as a way of rehabilitation is that it brings people together. “We want rehabilitation to change offenders so that they can be accepted back in society as law-abiding citizens‚” he said.
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Eight teams from different correctional centres across the province participated in the tournament.
The rehabilitation programme is set to roll out across correctional facilities nationally.
- TMG Digital
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