AFL chiefs look to South Africa

By Stephen Rielly http://www.realfooty.com.au
04 July 2007

NOTWITHSTANDING the relative success of the Irish experiment and the remarkable individual stories of Dublin’s Jim Stynes, Kerry’s Tadhg Kennelly and, of late, County Down’s Martin Clarke, South Africa has become the AFL’s preferred international recruiting field of the future.

This much was confirmed last week when a partnership with a South African company controlled by Geelong president Frank Costa was announced in the Johannesburg town of Alexandra.

The partnership, between AFL South Africa and Costa Logistics, will underpin the immediate roll-out of an AusKick-like development program, FootyWild, across four provinces. The AFL hopes it will produce 30,000 participants between the ages of eight and 18 by the end of 2009. If that figure is reached, South Africa will have a player base similar to that of Tasmania.

The AFL’s game development manager, David Matthews, said yesterday that being able to introduce Australian football to a foreign country without compromises or modifications — combined with South Africa’s enthusiasm to bring about social change through sport — made the export a development priority for the league. “It’s now clearly our priority international market. We’re going to South Africa unashamedly. With an Australian football, an oval ball, in our hands and grounds, because of cricket, that are comparable to our own,” Matthews said.

Which is why, next summer, Carlton, Collingwood and Fremantle are expected to conduct pre-season camps in South Africa and two of those sides will play a pre-season cup match there. “We’re finalising plans for that game now,” Matthews said.

The AFL has committed $400,000 a year for three years to AFL South Africa, with four AFL clubs (Carlton, Collingwood, Fremantle and West Coast) expected to pay $40,000 each for exclusive development rights in a province. With partnership funds from the likes of Costa’s firm, Tattersalls and the South African Government, the overall development budget is close to $1 million a year.

The funds will employ as many as 10 development officers this year, who will be expected to take FootyWild to at least 80 schools and start to establish talent identification programs at under-13, under-16 and open-age level and an elite AFL South Africa Academy for potential draftees.

The AFL has sought to make South Africa more attractive as a potential source of AFL players by introducing an international scholarship scheme that creates a place for a South African draftee on club lists and allows them to be signed as early as 15. Irish players, by contrast, cannot be signed until they are 18.

“What Collingwood has been able to achieve with Martin Clarke, they could achieve again and more in South Africa because the players can be signed earlier,” Matthews said.

COLLINGWOOD CEO VISITS CAPE TOWN TOWNSHIP

By Allison Simons
28 June 2007

Gary Pert, CEO of Collingwood Football Club in Melbourne ,Australia, and his wife, Andi, spent an afternoon in Khayelitsha on Wednesday 20th June with approximately 60 kids from the local area who were participating in a mini-Footy Wild clinic conducted by AFL South Africa. The clinic was organized by Vusi Madalane, the newly appointed Khayelithsa Community Development Officer for AFL South Africa, in conjunction with Mazizi Sifanelo, the Nyanga Community Development Officer and a host of volunteers recruited from Khayelitsha and other townships in the Cape Town area.

The clinic was conducted at the picturesque Khayelitsha Cricket Oval and the kids were taught the basic skills of footy by Vusi and his team. Following this, the kids were given the opportunity to display the new skills that they had learnt in several 12-a-side matches.

“The skill displayed by this group of youngster is very impressive, especially given the fact that many of them were completely new to the game” said Allison Simons, the Western Cape Provincial Development Manager.“I am pleased that Gary and Andi were able to attend the clinic and see for themselves the potential that Cape Town has to offer.

Collingwood Football Club has shown a considerable amount of interest in the activities of AFL South Africa in Cape Town and are in the process of negotiating a partnership with AFL South Africa which will see them adopting the Western Cape as their exclusive South African Development Zone. This partnership will not only see a sharing of resources, skills and knowledge between the two organizations but also provides an opportunity for talented young Cape Town boys to be recognized and developed as potential professional players .

FootyWild Roars for a new breed of Development Officer

By Phindile Khambule
12 June 2007

After an exhaustive talent search to find Australian Football’s newest Development Officers, the expanded team at AFL South Africa are about to take the “Big 5” skills of footy to Primary schools throughout the country.

“For a game that is virtually unknown in most parts of South Africa, we received an amazing level of interest in the 10 Community Development Officer (CDO) positions we recently advertised in four Provinces,” said Operations Manager Joel Kelly.

Australian Volunteer Travis Jackson, who is working for AFL South Africa and the Oaktree Foundation in Kwa Zulu Natal, was instrumental in finding a way to identify the best young people for the massive task ahead.

“We decided to take a slightly unconventional approach to the recruitment process, as we knew very little about the applicants and the majority of them knew next to nothing about our game”, said Jackson.

Instead of the standard short-listing for interview, the team at AFL South Africa simply invited the strongest candidates to each Provincial hub, for a practical introduction to our game and inter-active problem solving activities.

“It was almost like a draft camp of a different kind – we showed them the game, we got to see first hand who understood what we were talking about, who could think on their feet and who demonstrated the sort of leadership, initiative and potential we are looking for to introduce a relatively new sport in a new market”, said Jackson.

Admittedly, some of the applicants thought they were applying for soccer jobs, but once they saw the Australian game and had a go, they all became instant converts.

This is a theme close to the heart of AFL South Africa’s Head Coach and Ambassador Mtutuzeli Hlomela, who applied for a “football scholarship” in 10 years ago, thinking it was a soccer academy, only to discover he had actually accepted an Australian Football invitation to trial with Sturt FC in the SANFL!

“I could certainly appreciate what some of the applicants were feeling”, said Mtutu, “as I was in exactly the same boat a decade ago, but look at me now – I am part of the greatest game in the world and know that these young men will feel the same as me before too long.

The ten successful candidates are all young South African males in their twenties, some with experience as volunteers with South African agencies such as SCORE (Sports Coaches Outreach), some with University backgrounds, others with no knowledge of footy whatsoever, but all of them driven by a common love of sport and passion for community development.

Take 20 year old Mazizi Sifanelo from Nyanga township in Capetown, as a shining example of the possibilities. Mazizi first started playing footy about 9 months ago, when Allison Simons (Australian Volunteers International – AVI) came to Capetown to work for AFL South Africa. Since that time he has toured Australia to play the Indigenous U16 National side (Feb 2007) and volunteered to help Allison with the introduction of the game in his own township. Now he has a full-time job working in footy and can see the potential for the foreign game in his country.

“After two weeks of training with my new work-mates I can see we have a great team of enthusiastic young people ready to take the game to the next level – this really could be the new sport for the new South Africa,” said Mazizi.

The sight of a ten young South African men teaching the skills of Aussie Rules to over 500 local boys and girls from three township schools this week, has signaled a key turning point in the development of the game abroad. “Africans teaching Africans is what capacity building and empowerment is all about,” said Kelly.

As a result of the intensive training program and trial sessions with schools in the North West Province, the CDO’s have helped shape and develop the FootyWild program, South Africa’s answer to AFL Auskick. The program is developing its own South African flavour with its own unique style. The new approach has already given birth to some strange but effective footy terms that South Africa’s youth can relate to, “Swing your arm like an elephant’s trunk,” said young Mazizi with quiet confidence, as he showed his new counterparts how to teach the handball skill.

In the second half of 2007, AFL South Africa will introduce the FootyWild program to 4000 school children from 80 Primary schools in four Provinces. Volunteers will be empowered to assume management of 20% of the FootyWild programs in 2008, as part of a dedicated growth strategy moving forward. Who knows where it could lead to from there?

One thing is for certain though – FootyWild is the new game that roars and it’s about to make plenty of noise in southern Africa. Can’t wait to hear that!

An Aussie into Africa!

By Phindile Khambule
05 April 2007

The Australian Football League (AFL) has recently seconded it’s very first full-time staff member to an International post, with the appointment of Joel Kelly as Operations Manager for AFL South Africa (AFLSA).

Australian Football or AFL as it commonly known in Australia, is the countries biggest sporting code with well over 500,000 participants nationally. In South Africa however, the game is relatively unknown, with the exception of the North West Province, where footy has been played in certain regions since 1997.

“I was lucky enough to be part of the AFL’s very first Indigenous Youth Tour to South Africa in February 2006 – as a result of that visit, the AFL recognised the potential to grow the game nationally and as luck would have it, I was offered a posting in Potchefstroom, the home of AFL South Africa, for the next two years” said Joel.

Mr Kelly arrives in South Africa after spending the past 18 years in the Northern Territory of Australia, where footy is almost a religious experience, particularly amongst the Aboriginal people.

“Over the last decade or so I have been lucky enough to work with some amazing people in the footy industry and hope to be able to bring some of that experience with me. There are a lot of similiarities between the outback of Australia and South Africa, but there are also a lot of differences. It will be as much a learning experience for me as it will be for a country slowly coming to terms with our strange game, but I am confident that the spectacular nature of footy will hold great appeal for a sports-mad South African public”, said Joel.

AFLSA is looking to expand the game beyond the North West, to three other provinces with Gauteng, Zwa Zulu Natal and the Western Cape our immediate target areas. Four Provincial Development Managers have been appointed with a range of Community Development Officers to be employed in May to deliver programs at grass-roots level. A pilot program in Potchefstroom will provide a practical opportunity to train new staff in coaching, umpiring and administration skills. Beyond that a complete roll-out of the introductory “FootyWild” program will commence in Term 3 of 2007.

“We plan to start with staff-driven programs linked to Primary and Secondary schools but as the local community becomes more familiar with the game, we hope that many volunteers will get involved. The Australian game has no history in this country, so we hope that everyone will feel comfortable playing – it’s fast and exciting, it’s unpredictable, it’s spectacular and we think it’s the new sport for the new South Africa.

To catch a glimpse of this exciting new sport head to Sedgars Park in Potchefstroom on Saturday April 14 where kids games will be played from 12pm followed by the Australian U17 National team playing against South Africa for the very first time at 3pm. Entry is free.

Further comment:
Operations Manager Joel Kelly 0061 419 848 563
AFLSA CEO Jean Verster +27 829 236 399

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

By Phindile Khambule
07 December 2006

Dear All,

AFL South Africa would like to wish all our supportes, readers and partners a

“Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

Thank you for your support and interest.

All the best for the coming year !!

Regards,

AFL South Africa Team

Website still under construction !!

By Phindile Khambule
05 May 2006

Dear readers,

Our website is still under construction, it will soon be ready.
Apologies and thank you very much for visiting our site.

Regards,
Phindi

New Development

By Phindile Khambule
08 November 2005

 

Football has reached new communities. Residents in the villages of Morokweng, Schweizer-Reneke and Dithakong now play Australian football. All these communities are based in the Bophirima region, which is one of four regions of the North West Province. Football is fast becoming the people’s game and reaching the people who really want to play and get a kick out of life.

Australian Football is now an accredited sporting code with Maqwasie Hills Sports Association, which is responsible for many schools in the Schweizer-Reneke area.

 

If you want to play football in Morokweng, Dithakong and Schweizer-Reneke grab your sports attire and go kick a footy. If you want to contact those communities you can do it through AFLSA Office.

The following is the indication of where, when and who in communities visited.

 

Communities

Region

Contact Person

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

Brian Dixon

27 September 2005
By Phindile Khambule

Brian Dixon is on his 10^th visit to South Africa. He is the inaugural Chairperson of AFL South Africa and was responsible for setting up the Head Office in 17 Kerk Str, Potchefstroom.

Mr Dixon was formerly a Minister of Sport in Australia and a professional footballer for the Melbourne Football Club, playing in five Premierships and winning the Tassie Medal for the best player in Australia in the Brisbane Carnival in 1961.

Mr Dixon also coached the Kangaroos and was Chief Administrator of the Sydney Swans- the current AFL Premiership winners.

Welcome!!

PRESS RELEASE
17May,2005

AFL South Africa held a press conference on 11 May 2005 at 11:00am at the University of Johannesburg (RAU) Astroturf Hockey Club House to announce some exciting developments in Australian Football in South Africa.

Brian Dixon, Chairperson of AFL South Africa on that day announced the appointment of Jean Verster as the new Executive Officer of AFL South Africa. He takes over from Steve Harrison who will remain on as Head Coach until his contract ends on September 12^th.

Mr Dixon also announced a new Head Coach, Mtutuzeli Hlomela, who will commence work in September, a new Development Officer July Machethe, and a new Administrative Assistant Phindile Khambule. Mr Dixon said it was a testament to Steve Harrison that he is being replaced by three full time people and one part time person.

Mr Dixon also announced that AFL funding will be increased to R500,000 per year for the next three years. This will be in addition to existing funding from Tattersalls, the National Lotto Distribution Trust Fund, the North West Provincial Government, the North West Academy of Sport and other donors.

Jean Verster said he is very excited at the prospect of growing AFL in South Africa. He is looking to grow AFL participation to be the highest rate outside Australia. He said that AFL is a new sport to South Africa and is able to be played by all sectors of our population on equal terms.

Mr Verster said he will be concentrating on the development of primary and secondary school children. Potchefstroom will be a very strong base for development as well as other areas of the North West Province, Gauteng and Western Cape.

It is proposed that Mr Verster, Mr Hlomela, Mr Machethe, and Ms Khambule will all go to Melbourne for the 2005 International Cup as part of a party of thirty five players and officials. The Cup will be contested by twelve nations – South Africa, Canada, Demark, Ireland, Japan, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Spain, England and the USA in August.

All four new appointments will stay in Melbourne for briefings with the AFL and National league teams. The St Kilda Football Club, which visited Potchefstroom last November will host South Africa during the International Cup.

Mr Verster said the second of three training camps will be held in Potchefstroom between May 20-22 for the International Cup squad.