More than a game
The FNB Rhodes University first rugby side faced FNB TUT in their first Varsity Shield match last night, with the club aiming to receive recognition and support from the community as a whole.
The bid to gain Varsity Shield inclusion is a process that started over five years ago with the arrival of head coach Qondakele Sompondo at the University. The idea was to transform the University’s sport, and social image that has largely been viewed as predominantly academically and/or alcohol driven, to an image that retained a high level of academic performance and sporting achievement.
Sompondo quickly realised that to achieve these two elements there needed to be a paradigm shift for all those involved.
He introduced a system that was both player and administration dependent in the rugby club, and if there were any personal clashes causing them to drag their feet, they would get left behind.
The qualification spot was sealed during last year’s University Sports South Africa competition, when Rhodes rugby club finished as runners up in the C section, held in East London.
Rhodes were comfortable winners against University of Venda (26-12) and University of Zululand (37-7) to set up a final clash with Walter Sisulu University, in which they went down 30-13 in extra time.
Although they lost the final, Sompondo and all those involved in the rugby club heaped praise on the players’ efforts.
Though the efforts by Sompondo and his players on the field of play are awe-inspiring, their efforts off it are of notable consideration too.
The rugby club has embarked on a social responsibility campaign with the Home of Joy children’s haven in Joza, to which they generously donate funds, and where they recently spent a day cleaning up and interacting with the children. Many of the children have been orphaned at a young age and some are living with HIV/Aids.
These efforts have galvanised a community rife with socio-economic challenges and have brought renewed hope to children in the Joza community who harbour ambitions of one day walking through the University’s lecture halls.
The Varsity Shield inclusion has also meant that the club has made a pledge to the vicechancellor’s office that any winnings they might achieve during the Varsity Shield campaign will go towards the Isivivane fund, a student financial aid campaign targeting financially needy and academically deserving students - many whom come from the local townships of Grahamstown.
This Varsity Shield inclusion should be viewed as an opportunity for the Grahamstown community as much as it is for the Rhodes University and its Rugby Club.
• Philasande is a Varsity Sports social reporter for Rhodes Rugby