Help Soweto rugby jet off to Cape Town and Europe

THE Sowetan Rugby Schools’ Academy (SRSA) is looking to the public for sponsorships and donations to assist in sending their rising rugby stars to Cape Town and Portugal respectively.

Chairperson Chris Ditau and his learners are looking to reach new heights at the SRSA, thus qualifying for the Wynberg Winter Sports Festival in Cape Town and the Portugal Rugby Youth Festival in Portugal, but now need the public’s help to participate at these tournaments.

The SRSA is a non-profit organisation run by a highly specialised team of rugby professionals that started in 2016, targeting underprivileged children with the aim to restore dignity and selfworth through sports and academics.

Uniting the community through sport is a mantra at the SRSA and they believe through this unity they will create future sport stars, which will continue a cycle of upliftment. Sport is not the only thing the academy has to offer, with tutoring classes in English, physics and maths being offered, as academics play a vital role.

The Wynberg festival will be hosted from March 15-20 next year, with some top sports schools taking part.

The SRSA is planning on sending 52 boys from the U16A and First XV boys’ sides to Cape Town for the festival, which will accommodate 16 teams and over 1 300 players, making it one of the biggest festivals in the country.

That is not the only thing on the cards for the SRSA next year, as the youngsters have the opportunity to represent South Africa in Portugal on a five-day tour.

The U13, U18 and U19 boys and girls have qualified to represent the country at the Portugal Youth Rugby Festival on April 11-15. Fifty-two boys (U13 and U19) and 26 girls (U18) have showcased their rugby talents and been offered this opportunity of a lifetime.

Both tournaments are seen as opportunities that some of these kids might never get again but they want it rather to be an experience that they would learn and develop from and one they will never forget.

Being an NPO has meant that funds have not always been the easiest to come by and working with children from disadvantaged backgrounds, means opportunities like this are often missed.

If you are able to assist with donations, the Soweto Rugby Schools’ Academy banking details are:

“Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game.” – Michael Jordan