Sicelo winging his way to World Cup
U15 star needs funding to represent SA in England
Talented and ambitious Eden High school pupil Sicelo Junior Sakawuli is set to represent SA in the Under 15 division at the World Cup Junior Touch Rugby Tournament scheduled to take place in England in 2023.
Sicelo, 15, was selected after successfully qualifying in the Junior Interprovincial Tournament games held in Durban earlier this year, where he was awarded Most Valuable Player.
Despite being among the few selected for this prestigious opportunity, Sicelo has to fund all the costs for travel to England himself and failure to do so will mean he will have to forfeit his participation in the tournament.
He is dependent on his single mother who works as a Bolt driver to make ends meet.
“My mother has to pay for my travelling costs to England, which puts me in a very disadvantaged situation as I am the eldest of two sons and we rely on our single mother for everything.
“I would humbly like to request any form of assistance and donations from the public to fund my dream of attending the England trip to fly the South African flag high,” said Sicelo.
The memory of his late father had kept him motivated during the tournament and helped him play as well as he did, the young star said.
“What motivated me during the tournament was I kept visualising my late father whenever I was playing and I wanted to make him proud. There was also a car parked next to the ground that looked like the car he used to own, and that made me feel his presence and kept me going.”
Sicelo first played rugby in Grade 4. He was later taught the skills of the game at his previous high school in Cathcart.
Rugby prowess runs in the family, with both his father and grandfather excelling in the sport.
“The reason I love rugby so much is because it has been always a sport that has been played in the family, from my grandfather Alfred Sakawuli, followed by his son, which is my father’s eldest brother Sicelo Senior Sakawuli who played for Umtata Technical College. My grandfather played for Western Province back in the days, but unfortunately he got injured,” said Sicelo.
Sakawuli’s coach at Eden High School, David Ruiters, noticed his skills while watching him in athletics.
“He was the top athlete in the school. I watched him while he ran, I saw potential so I had him come play rugby.
“He has excellent ball skills and he is a very well-disciplined player. He is such a marvel to coach,” said Ruiters.
Phola Sakawuli, Sicelo’s mother, can be contacted on 073-201-4842.