PeacePlayers South Africa Storybook FINAL - Flipbook - Page 44
Umlazi, Section Q was Ntobeko Ngcamu's happy place. It's where he spent time with friends and family. This
environment didn’t allow him the mobility to go where he wanted. This was a byproduct of the strategic isolation
from opportunities - a characteristic of the many townships in South Africa. When Ntobeko did leave Umlazi, he
would visit family in a rural area, hours away from Durban, named Richmond. These visits were serene and peaceful
and ultimately helped Ntobeko reconnect with himself. If you ask any of his friends, he is a laid-back person who
deeply cares about making an impact. Coach Ntobeko would eventually use his personality, genuine delivery, and
passion for basketball to facilitate life skills. As a result, he became a member of Playing for Peace in 2003.
Ntobeko rarely went to other sections in Umlazi because he was comfortable with his immediate environment
Umlazi, Q section. However, he soon realised that this very thought process could be holding him back from
maximising his impact. Playing for Peace helped Ntobkeo see the world as a bigger place. Ntobeko started assisting
young kids in seeing the world through another lens, rather than the scope of their immediate surroundings.
His journey began when Coach Simphiwe Nsuntsha introduced him to the organisation. Ntobeko started as a
coach in 2003 at Saphinda Primary School. When asked why he started doing this type of work, Ntobeko says, "it
all comes from the desire to give back to the community and for the love of the sport." For Ntobeko, being a part of
something bigger than himself was uplifting for his spirit. He embraced being that accessible person young people
could reach for guidance at any time.
The combination of Ntobeko's upbringing in Umlazi township and traveling to family in a rural area in Richmond,
gave Ntobeko the idea of making an impact with Playing for Peace outside of just Umlazi. In these two areas, he
got two vastly different pictures of life - rural and township. Ntobeko later visited Umbumbulu, a semi-rural area,
where he got another perspective of life. He fell in love with the energy that the people of Umbumbulu exuded
along with the community atmosphere. When he wasn't coaching in Umlazi, he dedicated his time to assisting in
Umbumbulu with coaching clinics. The following year, he applied for the position and became the Area Manager
in Umbumbulu. There, Ntobeko grasped how much he could spark the next generation's minds through a sport that
the community initially mistook for netball and often viewed as being only for females.
Ntobeko and Playing for Peace introduced a few things to the community for the first time: practicing a unisex
sport, participating in career exhibitions, and attending cross-community games in other townships & city areas.
42
PEACEPLAYERS SOUTH AFRICA STORYBOOK
