1 November 2004
By Steven Harrison
The St Kilda Football Club will kick off their 2005 campaign by visiting South Africa from November 17 to December 6 for a training camp in Potchefstroom, North West Province. The Saints will be doing intensive fitness training sessions and team building activities including raft building, white water rafting, abseiling and orienteering.
But Coach Grant Thomas, who was in Potchefstroom last week ahead of the team’s visit, is keen for his players to do a lot more than just fitness training. He is interested in the Saints really getting to know the local players, most of whom are from disadvantaged backgrounds in South Africa’s rural communities, as a way of maturing his Saints. He plans for his players to help coach, umpire and run water for the South African players.
The visit will give the Australian Football program in South Africa a huge boost. There are approximately 800 mostly junior players in South Africa and they are bursting at the seams to have the Saints on their home turf. Players from all over North West Province will have the chance to meet the Saints will also be visiting the towns of Vryburg, Mafikeng and Rustenburg.
The visit follows the 1998 North West Province tour by the Adelaide Crows, and a Pre Season competition game between the Fremantle Dockers and the Brisbane Lions at Newlands Stadium, Cape Town in 1997.
Potchefstroom is a town of 200,000 situated 115km from Johannesburg in South Africa’s North West Province and is no stranger to visiting athletes. In fact, it is fast becoming a mecca for the world’s elite with its excellent facilities, and ideal altitude of 1,500m. The Australian Cricket team based themselves in ‘Potch’ during their successful 2003 World Cup campaign, and British athlete Kelly Holmes, gold medal winner in the 800m and 1500m at this year’s Athens Olympics, trains regularly there.
The Australian High Commission, the Potchefstroom Mayor, and AFL South Africa will put on a welcome reception for the team at the Potchefstroom Town Hall on November 18.
