AFL South Africa – North West enters into a partnership with Department of Correctional Services

By Phindile Khambule

04 August 2007

On Friday the 3rd August 2007 AFL South Africa – North West has signed a partnership agreement with Department of Correctional Services (Klerksdorp – Christiana – Wolmaranstad – Potchefstroom).

The partnership came after numerous meetings between the two parties whereby presentations were made and a deal to establish footy in the Correctional Centers in the Klerksdorp management area was reached. In the four correctional centers AFL South Africa – North West will identify officials and inmates to give them training in coaching and umpiring to enable them to run footy activities on their own.

We target to train 20 coaches, 20 umpires and 200 players by the end of 2007 and we will create competitions opportunities for inmates to play with community footy clubs. In that way we will be contributing into the rehabilitation process of the inmates and providing them with an opportunity to socialize with community people so the day they come out they will be accepted by the community” said July Machethe – North West Provincial Development Manager”

“The Department of Correctional Services have the rehabilitation program which have been supported by the national document called The white paper to attract stakeholders like AFL South Africa to assist with the rehabilitation process of the inmates through sport – I say Footy is what we need and it came at the right time given is a new sport in the country” Said Komotere Jacob Monaisa – P.R.O for Klerksdorp Management Area.

“AFL South Africa – North West will make sure that this program is implemented and that it brings positive change into South Africa’s nation building, our country need change” added July.

Geelong College the first School to visit North West “The Platinum Province”

By Phindile Khambule
05 July 2007

For the first time in its brief history, AFL South Africa is currently hosting a school group from Australia. Geelong College, one of Australia’s premier private schools from the State of Victoria is the first educational institution to visit the rainbow nation. The school students, aged 17-18 years, have flown over 10,000 kilometres to experience footy and netball on foreign shores.

Geelong College arrived in Johannesburg at O.R Tambo International airport to be welcomed by the very cold winter of South Africa. On day one, they drove through to Potchefstroom to view AFL South Africa’s Head offices and the wonderful facilities at Sedgars Park taking time out for a kick through the full size footy goal-posts.

“The footballers were genuinely surprised to find that away from home, there is another country that is really embracing the Australian game and even have facilities as good as back home,” said North West Provincial Development Manager July Machethe.

This was a time for introductions as the Geelong group were made welcome by the AFL South Africa team who were hell-bent on making sure that they enjoy their stay in South Africa

The Geelong College boys and girls both had the opportunity to undergo a “Footywild” training workshop to enable them to run the Footywild clinics. Footywild is ’s answer to AFL Auskick, aimed at 8 – 13 years olds boys and girls.

That afternoon, the College conducted Footywild clinics in Ikageng Township about 10km out of Potchefstroom, with about 70 kids participating.

“The College readily integrated with the South African kids, playing footy together and sharing a smile. It was amazing to see the Geelong boys and girls teach the Big 5 skills to our South African kids”, said July.

Geelong has certainly been part of history, as they have became the first team to play against all four regions of the North West Province. In total, the College played three games of footy and four netball matches. The matches took place in the Southern Region – Potchefstroom, Bojanala – Rustenburg, Central Region – Mafikeng and Bophirima – Vryburg.

“Collectively we have seen about 250 participants enjoying the experience, consisting of footballers, netballers, umpires, coaches, local volunteers and township kids”, said July. “Everyone has contributed to making the first Australian school tour to South Africa a great success. Visits like this are very important to the growth of sport in this country”, he said. “The combination of Footy and Netball is something that the AFL and AFL South Africa is looking to build on. It was great to see the local girls and boys building friendships with the Geelong College players of both genders – everyone learned from each other, making for some wonderful cross-cultural moments”, added July. After each match the Geelong College entourage has been treated to some of the local entertainment, highlighted by traditional dancers, who were only too keen to engage with the visitors.

“Best hospitality in South Africa-our home away from home. Everything was amazing-the culture, the life style and most of all the football and netball! Very inspiring people and athletes!” said Geelong College tour leader Jane Utting.

AFL South Africa is very keen to ensure that visits of this nature take place on an annual basis.

The Football Scores:

Geelong College 106 vs. Potchefstroom 23
Geelong College 100 vs. Mafikeng 39
Geelong College 107 vs. Vryburg 59

The Netball Scores:
Potchefstroom 27 def. Geelong College 15
Rustenburg 31 def. Geelong College 21
Geelong College vs. Mafikeng – Friendly Mixed game
Geelong College 32 def. Vryburg 18

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.

The Sydney boy returns from South Africa… “Lekgowa”

By July Machethe
05 July 2006

The Sydney boy from the North Shore Bombers football club has returned to Sydney after his five months stay in South Africa – all thanks to the clubs and individuals who sponsored his stay. Thomas Randall, well known as “Lekgowa” to most South Africa kids in the community of Christiana where he spent five months period experiencing life living in the community while teaching them a game of footy.

Thomas, a Sydney based 18 year old boy earned himself the name ” Lekgowa ” and accepted the name without knowing what it meant and only after some days he found out that ” Lekgowa ” is a white man. Kids called him that as he was the only white man staying in the community working with them in schools and doing after school sports programs. Thomas started his term in South Africa early January till mid June 2006. His focus was to teach football and in the township of Christiana and it’s surrounding townships. He managed to reach his goals with the support of the footy community volunteer’s team that he formed. Thomas formed the footy volunteer team now AFL Christiana committee in charge of football development in the area that supported him throughout. He worked in the schools teaching football and also helping teachers with English lessons.

Kids, youth and community members regard Thomas as a true leader who brought change to their community through sports as a medium to mobilize youth and keeping them exercising. As young as he is youth in the community were motivated to realize that he took time away from his home to come to Africa to volunteer doing sports development. His presence motivated most youth to volunteer in sports and share their skills with others.

Thomas had support from his family back in Australia – Sydney and from clubs such as Frenchs Forest junior AFL Club which provided him with some money and also gave sets of beautiful jumpers that the kids from South Africa are wearing with pride. The jumpers help a lot when we host junior festivals and matches. Thomas also received a great support from his local club North Shore Bombers FC which provided him with lots of sets of jumpers that also are used during festival and footy matches dressing kids to look like professionals. Pennant Hills Demons which gave Tom sets of jumpers that are also used for matches during competitions and festivals.

AFL South Africa extends their words of appreciation to the above clubs and individuals who gave Thomas support for his African adventure and giving the South African kids something to smile and cheer about.

AFL South Africa announces that Thomas is now playing a role from Australia helping AFL South Africa to find more footy jumpers and helping to recruit more volunteers to come to South Africa and do the same as he did.

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Lotto Funding Success

April 22, 2004
By Steven Harrison

Footy South Africa has been boosted by successfully obtaining South African Lotteries funding for season 2004-2005 for R394,000. The money will be split between the four districts of the North West Province and will provide for equipment and training workshops.

The funding will enable a significant growth in the numbers of young people playing Australian Football. At present, 300 hundred people in South Africa play, coach and umpire the great game.

The Lotto funding adds to the Tattersalls grant of R150, 000, the AFL Grant of R100, 000 and the North West Academy of Sport R100, 000. There is also significant support from SCORE, Australian Volunteers International(AVI), and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs.

Footy South Africa will also prepare a development plan for the AFL to extend in to other provinces. Gauteng already has two teams in Pretoria and Johannesburg and is challenging the North West Province in the first ever Inter Provincial game on Saturday April 24 in Mafikeng.

Other provinces Footy South Africa are likely to target are Limpopo, Western Cape and Free State, although all provinces will be considered.