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14
Eastern Cape Today 24 August - 30 August 2012 SPORT
SA CAPTAin hEAdS bORdER wOmEn
n Mandisa on top of rugby development
ON THE BALL
South African women’s national rugby team captain Mandisa Williams
has taken over as the Border women’s rugby development
officer. Picture by Derek Hindman
By Derek Hindman
Border women’s rugby
players could not ask for
a more quailed person
than South African national
women’s team captain
Mandisa Williams to
champion their cause.
Williams stepped into
the role as Border Women’s
Rugby Development
Officer this April. Until
then Williams had been
hunting for a job.
“I am happy. I feel that
this job is exactly what
I was looking for. It’s a
challenge because our
area stretches over the
whole Border area right
up to the KZN. I have not
been able to get to some of
the way out places yet but
I will get there,” Williams
said.
Seven other staff members
are involved in assisting
Williams as she
maintains and promotes
women’s rugby in the region.
Williams explained that
women’s rugby has taken
off big time in South Africa
and on the Border.
“On the Border we have
about 2 500 women of
all ages playing the game
formally. We have seen
an increase of about 40
percent in the number of
players since 2010.
“We already have U13
and U16 teams playing as
juniors in many areas but
my next goal is to start
introducing beginners’
rugby programmes at U9
level. The kids just have
fun with the ball and we
take things from there,”
Williams added.
On the field Williams’
next assignment is to lead
the Border women’s team
against Western Province
in Alice on Saturday 1
September. If Border wins
this fixture they will progress
to the semi-final of
the Women’s Currie Cup.
Williams left for Cape
Town yesterday where she
will take part in a week
long national women’s 7’s
team training camp.
“I aim to introduce 7’s
rugby to as many women
as possible on the Border
as it is not played anywhere
in the province
yet. I started playing 7’s
rugby in 2008 and I love
it. The format has been
recognised as an Olympic
sport for 2016,” William’s
added.
Enterprising play at
Steve Biko Memorial
ON THE ATTACK
By Desmond Coetzee
Local soccer teams produced
enterprising play at Victoria
Grounds in King William’s
Town last weekend on the
opening day of the annual
Steve Biko Memorial Tournament.
Cash prizes worth R23 000
will be up for grabs. The winning
team will walk away with
R10 000, a floating trophy
and gold medals, the runner
up receives R7 500 and silver
medals.
Steve Biko Foundation official
Andile Mbombo said the
enthusiasm showed by clubs,
and attendance of the community,
was overwhelming.
“There are 32 participating
teams competing and the
presence of the community
at the opening was unbelievable,”
said Mr Mbombo.
He added that the tourna-
ment will be concluded with
the finals being played on 15
September.
The format is a point system
with the clubs divided
into eight groups of four
clubs each and with the two
top teams going through to
the knockout stages.
This weekend’s fixtures are
all matches will be played at
the Victoria Ground in King
William’s Town
Saturday 25 August 2012
Ground A Ground
B
9am Almighty Peace vs Daddy’s
Attackers; Bhisho Utd vs Jabu
XI;
10.10am Bush Bucks vs Black
Stars; Super Strikers vs
Teenagers;
11.20am Green Leaves vs Buffalo
Sporting; Manchester vs Real
Attackers;
12.30pm Mubs vs Warriors;
Real Stars vs African Winners;
William’s is also looking
forward to leading the
South African Women’s
World Cup team in 2014.
The event will be held in
France.
“We might be expected
to play a few international
warm up matches before
then. It does not look like
will have to play any qualifier
fixtures.
Williams who is 27 has
been a regular member of
the Border women’s senior
team since she was
16 years old.
She played her first
match for South Africa
in 2006 and she has captained
both teams for a
number of years.
Williams is not planning
on hanging up her
rugby boots before the
next World Cup in 2014.
Hotline captain Pilasande ‘Zain’ Telane beats Maranatha midfielder Thembela Phaqula to
score their only goal during their opening games of the annual Steve Biko Memorial football
tournament in King William’s Town last weekend. The game ended 1-1.
Picture by Desmond Coetzee
1.40pm Jabu XI vs Almighty
Peace; Daddy’s Attackers
vs United;
2.50pm Teenagers vs Black Stars;
B/Bucks vs Mighty Swallows;
4pm Intellectuals vs B/Sporting;
G/Leaves vs W/Attackers;
5.10pm A/Winners vs R/Attackers;
United vs B/
United;
Sunday 26 August 2012
Ground A Ground
B
9am Mubs vs Subs; B/
Moving Stars vs AYA;
10.10am B/Bucks vs Teenagers;
S/Strikers vs M/Swallows;
11.20am Maranatha vs Blackpool;
Ace Mates vs Hotline;
12.30pm New Image vs Ayoba;
Drives vs Worshippers;
1.40pm All Stars vs AYA;
Jabu vs D/Attackers;
2.50pm Subs vs Warriors;
Mubs vs Max XI;
4pm B/Bucks vs S/Strikers;
A/Winners vs Manchester;
5.10pm Jabu XI vs United;
A/Peace vs B/United;
6.20pm R/Attackers vs R/Stars