By Nangamso Mabindla
19 June 2006

"YOUTH in Sport is Youth against Crime" was the theme when thousands of Buffalo City youth converged at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane on Youth Day.

The day commemorates the 16 June 1976 student uprising against the use of Afrikaans as a medium of education in township classrooms. This year is the 30th anniversary.

The event, organised by the South African Police Services and its social partners, was aimed at encouraging young people to be involved in sport as one of the many ways to fight crime in the city.

The tournament involved development sides from several Premier League Soccer teams, including Kaizer Chiefs and Jomo Cosmos, as well as local side Bush Bucks and a combined team from the Mdantsane Football Association.

Buffalo City Mayor Zintle Peter, the deputy minister for safety and security, Susan Shabangu, and representatives from the province attended the event.

Youngsters, from under 11s to under 15s, kept the 30 000-strong crowd on its feet with some dazzling skills.

Bush Bucks' youngsters showed they were a force to be reckoned with when they beat the combined Mdantsane Football Association squad by a goal to nil.

The highlight of the day was the match between two of the most recognisable names in South African football: Kaizer Chiefs' youngsters took on their Cosmos counterparts.

Coached by one of the country's football greats, Donald "Ace" Khuse, the Chiefs youngsters dominated Cosmos in the first half. But the Cosmos youngsters blew away Kaizer Chiefs in the second half, winning the game by 2 goals to nil.

Other youngsters showed their skills in basketball, with local team Fast Shooters winning the trophy.

Peter presented the trophy and medals.