Xhanti hosts rugby day

The Xhanti Msauli Foundation Rugby Day is scheduled to host more than 10 teams from improvised areas around BCM at the NU 1 Stadium in Mdantsane on Saturday.

The day-long rugby tournament aims to create awareness of the sport’s development structures in townships and rural areas.

Xhanti Msauli, who founded the non-profit organisation, said they wanted young players to be part of development teams where they could showcase and display their talent, without playing for local teams.

U13 to U19 teams from areas like Ndevana, Dimbaza, Keiskammahoek and Berlin are expected to descend on Mdantsane to take part.

“We want young players to have their own clubs and leave the older people’s teams where they get injured easily.

“So we’ve invited everyone who develops young kids in rural areas and townships around Buffalo City Metro,” said Msauli.

“This will help us identify talent that needs exposure so that we can build teams that can go and play against the more affluent schools who may be in a position to award deserving scholarships,” said Msauli.

He said the most important thing right now was to breach the gap in the level of competition between township and former model C schools.

“We need to have the same level of players, both in townships and in towns, so that everyone gets the opportunity to represent the province and even the country.”

Msauli’s organisation helped prop, Khanyi Lali, 16, to get a scholarship at Durban High School, and he said they were aiming to give more kids the chance to get a good education and the chance to play professionally.

“He’s [Lali] from Emvindleni informal settlement in Mdantsane, and this has helped relieve the burden on his parents, because he’s getting the best education for nothing.

“Also, he’s living his dream of playing the sport he loves with his whole heart, and that’s what we strive for as the organisation.”

The games start at 10am.