Organisers have invited South African rugby great Victor Matfield and Proteas Netball assistant coach Dumisane Chauke. The pair will be on hand to meet and greet spectators and some of the aspiring stars at the tournament.
THE ABSA Wildklawer Schools Sports tournament wrapped up its junior section for boys and girls on Thursday making way for a three-day fest featuring the first teams in rugby, netball and soccer at three local schools. Diamantveld High and Newton Primary this week hosted the bulk of the boys’ and girls’ netball and rugby matches for mostly the Under-16 age groups.
On Thursday the tournament held invitational rugby matches only at Diamantveld High between Prieska and Keimoes high schools as a warm-up before the tournament proper starts.
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To spice things up this year, the organisers have invited South African rugby great Victor Matfield and Proteas Netball assistant coach Dumisane Chauke. The pair will be on hand to meet and greet spectators and some of the aspiring stars at the tournament.
Because most schools have not been dismissed to accommodate this tournament the spectator attendance throughout the week was sparse with mostly officials and players around the perimeter of the grounds.
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However, the tempo and attendance is likely to change dramatically as of Friday when the crowd favourites, in especially rugby, take to the field. Among those eagerly awaited games are the ones featuring Afrikaanse Seuns Hoërskool and Paarl Roos Gymnasium, among others.
A statement from the organisers said: “The prestigious tournament is designed to give young athletes the opportunity to showcase their skills and compete against some of the top-performing schools in the country.
“With the appearance of the Absa Wildeklawer ambassadors, Dumisani Chauke and Victor Matfield, the athletes will get the opportunity to learn from the best and tap into their unlimited wealth of knowledge.
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Matfield is aware of what is at stake for the rugby youngsters as the Under-18 Craven Week is coming up in a few months’ time, and many of the players will be using the opportunity to cement their position in their school’s team. But it will also be netball that Matfield will be taking a keen interest in this year as his daughter will be competing.
“My visit to the Absa Wildeklawer Sports Tournament will be completely different this year,” he said. “Firstly, I am interested to see how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected our South African youth in terms of skills and overall performance on the rugby field. Not being able to play competitively for two years is not ideal and can set us back when it comes to sports development.
“Secondly, I will be viewing both the rugby and netball tournament through the eyes of a parent. I have three girls, and this is the first time I will be watching a tournament of this magnitude as a parent. I understand the pressures that the kids face, and I am hoping to chat to some of the parents (rugby and netball) and help them understand what their children are going through.”
“I will be supporting my daughter on the netball court as a parent that wants her to enjoy the sport, I am not there to add extra pressure on her. I will be doing the same thing at the rugby tournament where I will be supporting the boys and providing guidance,” said Matfield.
Chauke also expressed her excitement to experience and watch the Absa Wildeklawer Sports Tournament. “I am looking forward to seeing the excited faces of the netballers as they begin competing at the highest level of the game again,” she said.
“At last, we are back in action, and now is the time to up the level of skills as these are our future stars and heroes of the game. It will not be long before they start vying for their places in the national team.
“My message to them all is to enjoy every game and appreciate the experience and opportunity that they have been given. Celebrate the wins and learn from the losses. I am expecting to see some fierce competition on the court, and new friendships developing off the court,” added Chauke.
