Meeting their Springbok rugby heroes and hearing that they grew up in similar situations have encouraged youths from Masiphumelele to “reach for their dream” of one day playing for the Springboks.
William Hendricks, 19, said he never thought that his wish to meet the Springboks would come true. “It’s the first time meeting the Boks and they look very different from television. It’s motivating for us to be among the players because they share stories of how they were just like us before becoming rugby stars.”
Hendricks was one of the youths who got to meet some of the Springboks in Masiphumelele during a Laureus Sport for Good Coaching Clinic yesterday.
Even cold, gusty conditions couldn’t deter residents from coming out to see their favourites.
Bok flanker Siya Kolisi, who grew up in the Zwide township outside Port Elizabeth, enjoyed playing with the youths, saying he was happy to be involved in the clinic.
“Such coaching opportunities are always a good thing especially for the young rugby players. I love giving back to the community because I come from a similar background. In a sense, they’re more fortunate as they get to meet their heroes; I never got that chance when I was growing up,” said Kolisi.
Xola Simoyi, 19 couldn’t stop smiling after meeting his heroes, adding that he always knew he would meet them one day.
“It feels really good to be on the same field as the Springboks, but it couldn’t have come sooner for me. I always knew, though, that I would meet them one day when I become a Springbok player myself.”
He said such coaching clinics were good for the community. “If they were not at the field, I’m sure some of them would be doing drugs.
“I hope, that through this opportunity, more youngsters will become motivated to get involved in sport,” he said.
With the 2015 Rugby World Cup kicking off in two months, Kolisi said: “We want to win the World Cup but at the moment we are focusing on the game this weekend and the Rugby Championship. We’ll take it one game at a time.”
Crowd favourite Bryan Habana – who is also a Laureus Ambassador – said that hearing how the youth used rugby as “a tool for change in their lives”, was inspirational and that is what Laureus is all about.
Cape Argus