Zenzeleni wins rugby tournament
ALEXANDRA - Some sports talented school children in Alexandra have adopted rugby as a sport of choice.
Two rugby teams of Zenzeleni Primary School in Alexandra won their age groups at the Lions Rugby Club sponsored schools sevens rugby tournament.
The school’s U11 and U13 teams triumphed at the tournament held at Wendywood High School.
The tournament was contested by 18 former model C and township schools over three weeks in August and September.
The U11 and U13 teams were guided to victory by school teacher Thembeka Mpongose who has a level 2 rugby coaching certificate. Mpongose from the Eastern Cape said she had lived, breathed and dreamt rugby since she was a toddler in the dusty rugby bowls of her native province.
“My interest is to share the beauty of this sport with young talented African children as it can be their only way of making a descent living in the professional league,” she said.
She dismissed the notion that rugby was a sport for the white community. “Excellence in any sport is defined by talent, enthusiasm and the availability of an enabling environment to play the game up to the highest level.”
She said with the right support from sports administrators and the department of education, many talented African children could excel and represent the country in rugby at all levels including the Springboks.
Mpongose added that rugby developed discipline, concentration and team spirit which were essential for schoolwork. “With good support in the classroom, these attributes can help children improve their schoolwork as they will have developed the capacity for concentration and determination for success.”
