KaMhlushwa Black Cats receives much-needed kit and equipment
Amon Mavuso of the KaMhlushwa Black Cats Rugby Club said receiving the donation has boosted their confidence and has made a huge impact on the team.
Hollywood Bets, through the Hollywood Foundation, recently handed over rugby training equipment and kits to KaMhlushwa Black Cats Rugby Club. and the the handover was held at KaMhlushwa Stadium.
Nkomazi Local Municipality’s (NLM) executive mayor, Cllr Phindile Magagula, and the MMC for community services, Cllr Phindile Luphoko, also handed over equipment from the municipality’s side in support of the initiative.
Amon Mavuso of this rugby club said this was a much-needed donation from the Hollywood Foundation.
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“As a rugby team in rural Nkomazi, we face a lot of financial constraints and we need assistance. Receiving this donation has made a huge impact on us as a team. We used to find our team members playing in different jerseys since we didn’t have, and sometimes different shorts. Now that we have this we will be able wear a matching kit.”
KaMhlushwa Black Cats Rugby Development Club is a non-profit organisation (NPO) with 100% black management and 100% black owned. “Our focal point is social development, taking kids as young as eight years, to adults, and implanting the rugby culture in them, which in turn enhances the moral framework and propels them to a better future in the sport, and essentially, in life. It develops rugby in the rural areas of Nkomazi. The club is an affiliate under the Nkomazi Sports Federation, Mpumalanga Rugby Union (MRU) and the South African Rugby Union,” said Mavuso.
There are obvious challenges in the community that inspired them to start the initiative.
“The challenges are evident. Young people are vulnerable to drugs and crime. They are without formulated structure locally that can channel their energies towards good in all aspects in life.
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“This team was initiated in KaMhlushwa township in 2007 by myself, Mxolisi Chiloane, Xolile Shabangu, and the late Hennie Kruger, as a way of getting more local guys to play the sport. In 2012, the team was registered as a club under the MRU, and as an NPO, and the club participated in and won tournaments such as the Gee Bee’s Sevens and the Nkomazi Mayoral Sport Development Cup.”
Mavuso said the team appreciates the donation.
“This will encourage the players to perform better as this gesture has given us confidence. We now focus on playing and performing better than we did as we have the equipment needed.”
