Some of the region’s top junior development players put on a great spectacle of rugby at the Mzansi’s Rugby Academy 7s tournament at Station Hill Fields on Saturday.
Twelve schools from Makhanda, Gqeberha and Ndlambe totalling about 150 players from U13 to U18 divisions converged on the fields to play in the inaugural tournament. Port Alfred High won the main final against Gelvandale Academy u18s 27-19.
Mzansi’s Rugby Academy director Barry Scharneck said the staging of the successful event was a highlight for the players and the community and they would pull out all the stops to host it annually.
Mzansi’s Rugby Academy which is in its fifth year of existence, focuses mostly on attracting youth who are from non-rugby schools and “those youth who are facing serious challenges in their communities”.
“When we moved to Port Alfred in 2019, case studies showed us that many children were not getting opportunities especially in sport and we thought we could fill that gap when it came to rugby and that’s how we started,” said Scharneck.
“We had to show some consistency too after we rolled out our programme … to have coaches available and other support structures. We are very much in a rugby-rich area, very much in the epicentre of Makhanda, Ndlambe, Gqeberha, and East London when it comes to the sport.
“The current market and setup of how Bok rugby has developed and succeeded gives youth a chance to think about wanting to be the next Ox Nche, the next Sacha-Feinberg Mngomezulu, or the next Siya Kolisi. “With all the untapped rugby talent let’s produce a Springbok from the Port Alfred area,” said an excited Scharneck. “It won’t happen overnight but it can happen.”
Scharneck said they were very fortunate to have SuperSport SchoolSport present to livestream the games to the various communities.
“The great thing about the livestreaming was that other youth and rugby fans in the communities could actually watch the games on the SuperSport App or internet.”
“The Kesho Collective who are based in London made the whole spectacle possible with their sponsorship which meant we could have security at the games, emergency personnel and transport for the youngsters.
“The Kesho Collective are amazing people; they generate funds for some charities in the Eastern Cape – and what helps is that they love rugby. So we are honoured and privileged to be associated with the Kesho Collective who have helped 150 children participate in rugby and end their rugby season on a high.”
“Rugby was the winner; it was competitive … I was very impressed by the quick feet of the younger players and we were all very impressed by an absolutely amazing day of rugby,” added Scharneck.
- This article was first published in Talk of the Town, September 19, 2024. The newspaper serving the communities of Ndlambe and the Sunshine Coast, with a weekly wrap of Makhanda news, is available at stores from early on Thursdays.
