Cash boost for sport in schools

Monty Betham gets involved in the sports programme after its launch. Photo / Dean Purcell

Former league player Monty Betham was at the Otara Recreation Centre yesterday to help launch a $240,000 sports programme from John Walker's Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation.

He was joined by children from Yendarra Primary School, one of the first schools to benefit from the programme.

Primary Sport is a programme aimed at providing sport and recreation opportunities for children aged between 9 and 11.

It is financed by the Perry Foundation and the Southern Trust, and the money will go towards after-school sports activities, assisting schools with inter-school competitions and providing in-school coaching and training.

Counties Manukau Sport will initially run the programme in nine schools in Papatoetoe and 10 schools in Otara.

It will eventually be introduced to other parts of Manukau.

Foundation chairman and Manukau City councillor Sir John Walker said Primary Sport would help provide an environment that would nurture the region's young sporting talent.

"It will offer opportunities to our young people to participate so that they can develop a strong interest and skill in sport."