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Rugby recognition for Diepsloot

Johannesburg - The schools rugby programme in Diepsloot supports the broader schooling curriculum, particularly the need for extra-curricular activities, said Tsogo Sun Sports Academy on Thursday.

Through provision of extra-curricular activities, the academy could deliver essential life skills, health care and wellness education to complement the formal curriculum, said spokesperson Dhrupal Amin.

"These would ensure a lasting contribution to the lives of the disadvantaged South African youth which the academy reaches by providing a foundation that will enable them to reach their full potential," he said.

Amin was speaking at the Diepsloot sports complex where the sports and recreation department was making an official announcement that it was endorsing the programme.

The programme which was launched in July involves 300 boys between the ages of eight and 11 from seven primary schools in
Diepsloot.

Both teachers and pupils have gone through a variety of rugby skills development training since its inception.

The schools also host rugby matches between each other on a weekly basis.

Sports activists and parents arrived at the venue just after school where representatives of the department attended a rugby training session.

The department's director general Alec Moemi said the department had decided to endorse the programme because it was aligned with the objectives of the Schools Sports Framework.

"Sport has the capacity to impact positively on young lives, instilling strong values and excellent leadership skills," he said.

Moemi was speaking on behalf of Minister Fikile Mbalula who was unavailable to attend the event due to other commitments.

"Diepsloot is a disadvantaged community and through such programmes, we are able to make school sport accessible to all learners through effective strategy and infrastructure," he said.

Celia Mbomela from Diepsloot extension 2 said she was excited that her son, Zamokuhle, was taking part in the programme because it had kept him from the streets.

"I realised that he is passionate about the sport and will do my best to support him and hope he makes it to Springbok team soon," she said.

Peter Bopape, a teacher at Muzomuhle Primary, said the programme had opened up new opportunities for the youth and the township at large.

"These will ensure that our township has representation at big rugby clubs nationally and internationally in the future," he said.

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