Cape Town - The DA in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament has welcomed the appointment of Allister Coetzee as the new Springboks coach and wished him well.
In a press release issued shortly after Coetzee's appointment on Tuesday, Ricardo Mackenzie MPP, in his capacity as chairperson of the Standing Committee on Cultural Affairs and Sport in the Western Cape, confirmed he would write to the Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport in the Province, Anroux Marais, to inquire what support her Department is giving Western Cape rugby federations, to ensure that more Western Cape-born rugby enthusiasts stand a chance to one day become Springboks.
The released went on to say:
We are pleased that the South African Rugby Union has decided to look to Allister Coetzee to lead this team, and hope that he will receive all the necessary support he will require as he takes on this prestigious position. We have all seen the amazing work he has done with the Stormers and Western Province franchises, and as a result we are fully behind him as he begins this new chapter with the Springboks.
The Western Cape has a vast talent pool to choose from and we urge the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport to continue expanding the programmes they have in place to identify and nurture talent in the Province. We welcome the allocation of R260 000 to the Overberg District for sporting activities. We are convinced that this allocation will certainly promote sport in the district and maybe one day contribute to the creation of more Western Cape sporting heroes.
We urge all sporting enthusiasts in the province to seize the opportunities the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport has availed. Use these avenues as ways to get away from criminal elements in our communities and contribute to creating better communities
The DA is committed to youth development through creating sporting opportunities that foster nation building and positive attitudes.