Mtutuzeli Hlomela’s visit to AFL – September/October 2005

By Phindile Khambule and Mtutuzeli Hlomela
25 October 2005

Mtutuzeli Hlomela is now back to South Africa from Australia. He has now just started his role as an AFL South Africa’s Head Coach. The trip started in Perth, where him and Mr Jean Verster (AFL South Africa CEO) met with the Minister of sport (Western Australian), Mr Bob Kucera. The main aim for this visit to Australia was for him to expand his knowledge of Coaching before starting with his job as an AFL South Africa Coach.

This was realy a great opportunity for him to observe best practice, to conduct programs first hand, to appreciate how big the game is culturally and to establish key contacts with different people. Mtutu is now prepared to adapt what he learnt in Australia to conditions in South Africa.

Below is his story sharing with us what he did on daily basis:

Date	Event/Activity	Benefit/Outcome
16 September 2005	Meeting with Western Astralian Sport Minister Mr Bob Kucera, Mr Colin Brown and Mr Grant Dorrington. AFL Prelim Final- West Coast, Adelaide WAFL Grand Final- South Fremantle vs Claremont	The Meeting gave us the opportunity to lay out our aims and objectives of AFL South Africa. We have since gained the support of the Western Australian Sport & Recreation Department and the Western Australian Football League. We are at a start of what can prove to be a very productive relationship. For me personally, it gave me a chance to observe how things are done and decided at the gorvement level. Some of the contacts that we made were with Bhp Billiton, Gull group of companies, etc. We have never been to a Prelim Final before, so it was an exciting event for both Myself and Jean Verster)
19 September 2005	Brownlow Medal Count	Provided me with the chance to mix in with the ‘Glitsyand the Glamorous’, it felt like the Oscars. I sat with the Australian Minister of Sport Mr Rod Kemp, and met with some of the legends of the game eg. Mr Ron Barassi. I was able to experience an award function at the highest level. It was truly a great evening and a great after party.
20-23 September 2005	National Australian Bank Rising Stars Cup	I was allocated to the Allies under 18 football team. They provided me with the education on what takes place in preparing players as a Coach. I worked with Hamish Ogilvie, Craig McCrae (three times premiership player Brisbane Lions), Damien Hale and Daniel Mcpherson (Ex Sidney Swans player)
	Auskicks	I observed Tinika van Dort and Dean Warren organising the Auskick activities for the Grand Final parade and the Grand Final day. I was very impressed with the level of professionalism and effeciency that was displayed by them and different state co-ordinators. I then met with Mr Robert Di Pierdimenico, who was fantastic with the kids and i realy enjoyed him.
	Grand Final Parade	The parade was good, fun and exciting. I was very excited to be part of thousands people who took their time to be at the parade.
25 September 2005	Grand Final	The Grand Final is a sensational event. I watched one of the most exciting footy games since I’ve been involved with the Sport. I hope we as South Africa will host our own in the future, attracting people from around the world.
26-30 September 2005	AIS AFL Camp NAB Rising Stars Draft Camp	The week in Canberra was a very solid one in terms of my education in football fundamentals. It was crucial that I absorbed as much as I could at these camps so as to know and understand what takes place behind selecting a footballer well as being an effective role player in coaching development. I realised the significance of the camps in giving young ambitious footballers, coming from all over the country, the chance to realise their dreams of becoming proffesional players of the AFL. I appreciated the wisdom and the discernment used in the selection of players, something I need to work on if I ever want to be successful in building the perfomance standards of football in South Africa. I learnt the different methods of physical and psychological tests used which are critical in determining the best players suited for the AFL. I seek to establish a similar program in future, so as to set an excellent standard of football in South Africa and sustain for many years to come.
	Level 3 Coaching Course	The coaching course gave me an opportunity to be involved with some of the the elite in AFL football coaching. I was honoured to be in the presence of Mr David Parkin and Mr Neil Craig, whom I believe are to the best the game has ever produced. Some of the lessons presented at the course were very high tech, cutting edge and way beyond my reasoning but I know that just being involved has stood me in good sted for the rest of my caree as a coach. It has provided me with the skills to develop a unique sporting environment in football communities that I will be involved in.
04-07 October 2005	AFL Qeensland	They provided me with the chance to work hands on with programs such as Auskick. It was a great experience, worked very hard and definetly made new friends.
10-13 October 2005	AFL Game Development	I had a great time working in the Game Development Department, in terms of learning best practice, first hand and it was a great week.

Special Thanks:

1. Mr David Matthews – AFL Head of Game Development
2. Mrs Jo Turner – Pa Game Development
3. Mr Ed Biggs – AFL Head of Community Development
4. Mr Kevin Shehan – AFL National Talent Manager
5. Mr Allan McConnell – AIS AFL High Performance Coach
6. Mr Lawrie Woodman – AFL Head of Coaching
7. Mr Craig Notman – AFL National Talent
8. Mr Bob Balty AFL Queensland
9. Mr Jim Urqhart – AFL Queensland

Tshirologang Demons go undefeated and win the Grand Final

By Jack Arnold
04 October 2005

The Rustenburg U/13 Australian Football League finals were held on Wednesday September 21^st at Retlakgona Primary School, Extension 1, Meriting. The finals were the culmination of an eight week league which had been running since early August.

The finals were held on a soccer field which was transformed into a footy field. Goal posts replaced the soccer goals and cones formed an oval. The play off’s for the minor places began at 12.30pm, the grand final began at 4.30pm. The two top teams, the Tshirologang Demons and Retlakgona Bulldogs warmed up, shook hands with all the umpires, posed for photos and the action got under way.

The Demons were worthy winners having not lost a game all season. For the first three quarters the trend looked set to continue, they led by 24 points at the final change. In the last quarter they were outscored three goals to nil but hung on to win by eight points. If the game had continued for another five minutes they would have been run over, in what would have been the upset of the season.

The scenes of excitement at the end of the game were fantastic. The entire team ran off in different directions, many players performing flips and cartwheels. Eventually they came back to receive the trophy and the best player was presented with a trophy and a Hawthorn Football Club scarf.

The Rustenburg U/13 Australian Football League proved to be very successful. During the league approximately 160 children participated, they were part of seven teams from four different primary schools. The hope for next season is more schools, teams and players.

During the season it was great to see the skills of the players develop, and the games become much more competitive. There was a definite sense of competition to win the cup and take a trip to play the winners of the other leagues around the North West Province.

A big thank you must go to the girls from Boikagong Secondary School who volunteered their time to come and umpire every week. Special mention must also go to Retlakgona Primary School for allowing their field to be used for the league and finals.

The scores in the grand final were;

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Total

The finals standings for the Rustenburg U/13 Australian Football League are as follows;

Premiers

Tshirologang Demons