The Rep 1 October 2021

THE REPRESENTATIVE 1 October 2021 Tel: (045) 839-4040 / editorial: mjekulal@therep.co.za / advertising: charodinev@therep.co.za 15
SPORT SCENE
graphic © liudmyla pushnova / 123RF.com
Ubumbo clinches inaugural Edwin
Nutse Ngculu heritage rugby tourney
Six U16 teams
competed in
the knockout
tour nament
FOR GLORY: Ubumbo Rugby
Academy (in gold and red)
beat Komani Rugby
Development in the final of
the Edwin Nutse Ngculu
heritage rugby tournament in
Mlungisi last weekend P i c t u re :
NTSIKELELO QOYO
NTSIKELELO QOYO
Spectators were treated to
quality entertainment last
Friday when amateur club
rugby boys showed their skills at
the inaugural Edwin Nutse
Ngculu heritage rugby
tournament in Mlungisi.
Six U16 teams competed in
the single knockout tournament
hosted by Mlungisi team,
Komani Rugby Development
(KRD) played over two days,
after the final could not be
squeezed in on Friday.
The winner was Ezibeleni
team UBumbo Rugby Academy
which had come back strongly
against host team KRD after
going into half time 5-0. A
never-say-die attitude and
punishing of handling errors by
KRD got them over the line,
finishing the match 15-20.
On the way to the final
Ubumbo had demolished East
London team Mdantsane
Hurricanes 28-0. They emerged
as early favourites alongside
their fellow finalists KRD which
beat Nqgamakhwe Lions 36-0.
Komani Rugby Academy also
failed a second-team.
Unfortunately, they did not
register a single win, losing to
Ubumbo and Hurricanes
without registering a single
point.
Ubumbo coach, Bongani
Nogilana, said the team’s
achievement was
overwhelming. “It moved me to
tears. This was our first
tournament and the desire to
win got us over the line. There
was some questionable
officiating, but in the end we
managed to win.”
Hlela Mbasana, coach of
KRD was equally impressed at
how the tournament went. “Fo r
a tournament that is just starting,
it was a success. Everything we
planned happened. Different
people in Komani supported us,
each contributing in a different
way.
“The trophy will rotate for 15
years and the team which wins
more than five tournaments in
that time will keep it. We would
like this to be the start of
something bigger and hopefully,
as we grow, we will have a
sponsor jump on board and go
on this journey with us. It is an
honour for Nutse, who invested
a lot into the sport - teaching
and coaching us. We want to
honour him while he is still
a l ive ,” he said.
Lack of sport facilities in rural
areas holding children back
AEROBICS ATHLETE
MAXWEE LEVINE
Sport at grass roots level is the
foundation of a healthy and
competitive sporting nation, but
the lack of adequate sporting
facilities and financial support
limits young, upcoming
athletes’ abilities to reach their
full potential.
This is even worse in rural
communities, where these
facilities are non-existent.
The only sporting facilities
available there are open soccer
grounds with natural grass or
gravel, where the young athletes
t share the fields with grazing
cattle, sheep, goats and pigs.
We have the department of
sport, recreation, arts & culture
(DSRAC), the national
federations and local
municipalities. Are these bodies
not supposed to make sport a
priority?
What is happening to the
Municipal Infrastructure Grant
(MIG) that is tabled year in and
year out in the municipal
budget? It seems sport is
blatantly ignored.
Mass participation among
young people is of paramount
importance. It builds discipline
and character and teaches the
values of life in general.
But instead of seeing these
young people on the sports
fields they are engaging in
alcohol and drug abuse and
unprotected sex.
Sport must not only be seen
as a business where a few make
NOWHERE TO PLAY: Limited or no sporting facilities are a great concern for children from rural
areas Picture: SUPPLIED
a profit. Structured sporting
events should be launched for
the benefit of all communities,
especially those in rural areas.
Lack of proper playing fields,
sports equipment and kit will
derail any prospect of
unearthing rough diamonds
hidden in these valleys.
Even schools in rural areas
don’t have fields. If they did it
could at least benefit the local
clubs and communities who
could form a partnership to
maintain the fields. For now,
schools operate in isolation and
play no meaningful role in the
development of the community,
apart from education.
Sport can be a gamechanger
in rural communities if
more attention is given to it.
DSRAC launched the Rural
Sport Development Programme
in 2016 in Mthatha. Is it
e f f e c t ive ?
The objective of the
programme was to revive sport
and unearth talent in rural areas
with the specific focus on areas
that are under the traditional
authorities and farms.
Its main focus was on soccer,
netball, rugby and athletics.
Five years down the line can
we see rewards? Instead we are
back with the same
c o nve r s a t i o n .
The hard truth is the lack of
facilities in rural areas is
stagnating the development of
children from rural areas.
FITNESS BUNNY: Aerobics athlete Simthandile Tongo was
in Bloemfontein last weekend to compete at the seventh
Thebe Fitness Academy aerobics competition. The
Aerobuild fitness club member took top honours at the
event, bagging first place in each of her categories, Hilo
and Step professionals Picture: SUPPLIED