Situated in one of Nelson Mandela Bay’s poorest and most crime-infested townships, D’mpongs Judo Academy in Kwazakhele is a light of hope for the community.
Based at Masibambanye Senior Secondary School, the club has 18 ranked national competitors, four of whom made the national team which took part in the eighth African Union Sport Council Region 5 U20 Games in Gaborone, Botswana recently.
But due to financial problems, only one athlete from the academy competed.
Tina Mvenya returned with a silver medal after finishing second in her division.
Coached by former Judo SA champions senseis Archiebald Mpongoshe and Noxolo Melwa, the club has 32 members aged from six to 20.
“The club was established in 2014 with the aim to uplift the community and also take children off the streets and away from doing all the bad stuff – to groom them through sport,” Mpongoshe said.
“Our aim was not only to teach the children judo, but most importantly motivate them and also teach them about life skills.
“Now we are busy with a programme called ‘Judo for Women’ to teach females self-defence because they are easy targets for criminals.
“The idea is also to fight the stereotype that judo is a male sport,” he said.
Melwa added: “Most women are under a lot of stress, so this project also helps to relieve that stress. You benefit both physically and mentally.
“Sport also opens many opportunities, like travelling abroad and also studying.”
The senseis say their biggest challenge is transport fees because many of their tournaments are out of town.
“Because we deal with children who mostly come from disadvantaged backgrounds and are raised by single parents, we sometimes struggle to raise transport money and end up using our own money to get the children where they need to go,” Mpongoshe said.
Among the D’mpongs Judo Academy stars is 18-year-old Mvenya, who was ranked number one in her division in Group Five, which consisted of participants in the 17 to 20 agegroup.
She attended the judo national trials and came first to book herself a spot in the SA Judo team that went to Botswana.
“I am very happy about the achievement in Botswana because I wasn’t expecting a lot. I didn’t even expect to come second because I didn’t have much time to train due to exams,” said the grade 12 pupil from Urban Academy.
“I only had three days to prepare for the fight so I am very grateful and proud of myself for the achievement.
“This was my first trip outside the country and my first international fight.”
Mvenya joined the club at the beginning of 2015 after she was recruited by her best friend, Lindokuhle Ntlebi.
“Judo teaches you a lot of things, especially in terms of discipline and self-control.
“Through taking part in the sport I have learnt self-defence and how best to handle myself as a young girl.
“I want to be a well-known SA champ and next year I will be studying towards a diploma in sport physiology at the University of Johannesburg.”
Mpongoshe said her achievement was overwhelming because it showed that the hard work they we put in did not go to waste.
“I am happy with such an achievement because it will not only encourages her peers in the club, but also other children around the community.
“I want her to share her talent with other children outside because the judo that we teach here is ‘each one teach one’.
“By doing so we want to grow the sport.”