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.

Costa Logistics Launch FootyWild in Johannesburg Township

Media Release
Monday, July 2

Alexandra sits in a dusty bowl in the heart of Johannesburg, covering an area of about 7 square kilometres. Only 3 clicks away, lies Africa’s wealthiest suburban precinct of Sandton. From outside a shanty dwelling in “Alex” you can see the glimmering twin towers that reflect the wealthy image of Sandton, much the same way as the Harbour Bridge identifies Sydney, Australia. For the residents of Alex it all seems so close, yet so far away.

In terms of geography, Alex represents an area 25 times smaller than Sandton yet the population base is about the same.

“That’s a sobering thought when you consider that in some parts of Alex, 80,000 people live in one square kilometre, with 3 x 3 tin shacks housing entire families of 6 and more,” said AFL South Africa (AFLSA) Ambassador and Provincial Development Manager for the Gauteng Province Mtutuzeli Hlomela

So then, it was with a great deal of hope and goodwill that the fourth generation family-owned Australian company, Costa Logistics helped launch a unique social responsibility partnership with AFL South Africa in Alexandra on the weekend. FootyWild, The New Game That Roars, was unleashed on the shanty town with spectacular results.

Last Friday Mtutuzeli and his team combed the streets of Alex looking for youngsters aged 8-13 years that might like to try FootyWild, South Africa’s answer to AFL Auskick.

“The recent public service strike in South Africa has meant that schools have not been operational for over a month and it was obvious that these kids were crying out for some structured activity, “ said Mtutu. “We want to give these kids opportunity”.

The next day at a cricket ground overlooking the shanty township, more than 80 kids came out of the woodwork to experience all that is “raw and wild” about the great Australian game.

Costa Logistics staff were on hand to help teach the kids the BIG 5 Skills of Footy – Kicking a Super Goal (Kicking), Taking aSpeccie (Marking), Using your Hands to Create (Handball), Chase Tackling an Opponent (Defensive Skills) and even the Blind Turn (Evasive Skills).

“Costa Logistics South Africa is excited by the opportunity to partner with AFLSA in supporting the Footy Wild program for the next three years” said Chief Executive Officer Anthony Jackson. “The company sees the Footy Wild program as a unique way in which to have a positive impact on communities across the nation. Through daily and weekly programs, Footy Wild has the potential to engage children, their parents and community volunteers in an organised activity, focussed on developing both physical and social skills”, said Jackson

The Costa Logistics partnership is a National sponsorship arrangement extending across the four Provinces in which AFL South Africa is now working. The three year commitment, valued at approximately 3.6 million Rand, will provide participation opportunities for over 16,000 FootyWild participants by the end of 2009.

Importantly the partnership goes well beyond a cash injection with Costa Logistics providing Gauteng office accommodation and support, training for AFLSA staff and even the possibility of a strong volunteer army to support the FootyWild program in Alexandra.

“AFL South Africa is delighted to have the Costa Group as the major partner of FootyWild”, said AFLSA Executive Officer Jean Verster. “We aim to embrace the Costa philosophy of “hiring for character, training for skill”, as we steadily build a team of committed local staff and volunteers that will become the cornerstone of our participation growth plans”, said Verster.

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.

Keep supporting!

Rovers making a name in South Africa

Friday 14th January 2005

There are many Melbourne Bayside kids over the years that have played their first game of Footy in a Hampton Rovers Jumper. These days, there are kids in the unlikely town of Bodibe in South Africa also experiencing their first taste of Australian Football wearing the Green and Gold. This is thanks to a recent donation of Jumpers from the Hampton Rovers Football Club in Melbourne to the AFL’s Australian Football program in South Africa.

The jumpers supplied by Bill Jowett have made their way to the township of Bodibe, 300 km west of Johannesburg in South Africa’s North West Province. Bodibe and the surrounding towns of Itsoseng and Verdwaal each have an under 13, and an under 16 team, and enough senior players to make one combined side. Pictured are the Bodibe under 16 team playing on their home ground in September 2004.

Most of the teams participating in AFL South Africa’s leagues and carnivals rely on donations of footy uniforms and other equipment. Many players play in bare feet, some in their school uniforms, and all without mouthguards. Most fields have no grass, and the players sometimes have to help in removing the larger rocks and stones before the games commence. Given all that, one can imagine the value these players would place on their own set of ‘proper’ Aussie Rules uniforms. AFL South Africa and the players themselves are very thankful to the Rovers for their donation.

The South African senior national team, ‘the Buffaloes’ will be competing in the AFL’s International Cup in Melbourne in August this year. They are looking forward to joining a BBQ at the Rovers clubrooms with some of the other competing teams. The Bodibe Football Club wish the Rovers well in 2005!

Steve Harrison

Executive Officer/Head Coach AFL South Africa

(and former Rovers Junior Player!)

Balls for Africa

21 June, 2004
By Steve Harrison.

South African football has breathed new life with the arrival of a shipment of Footballs from Australia. Footy South Africa’s Head Development Officer, Mtutuzeli Hlomela, (pictured right) was on hand in Potchefstroom, North West Province, to greet the delivery truck after waiting patiently for several long weeks. He celebrated by going for a kick in the nearby park. “It was like a pub with no beer, now it feels like Christmas!” said Mtutu. Footy South Africa appeals to those in Australia who wish to donate footies – they are much needed in the development of our great game in South Africa. Please contact us!

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.