Sport brimming with Gaelic gold
NGN catches up with KZNs first Gaelic Football team, the Zulu Gaels.
THEIR legs fly about as if independent of their bodies. If you thought they belong to Michael Flatley’s ‘Lord of the Dance’ tap crew, you’d be wrong, but there is a Celtic connection. A year ago, Danville Avenue resident and Irishman, Donal Ryan, set out to create a slice of home as well as introduce people to gaelic football.
Instead, he unearthed a pot brimming with Gaelic talent and has created KZN’s first Gaelic football team, the aptly titled ‘Zulu Gaels’. Fast forward a year and the team that won the SA Gaelic Football Blitz Challenge has attracted a number of new faces to a sport most people have never heard of.
Glenashley resident and part-time soccer player, Johann Werner, said he was looking for a local team to play for when Ryan suggested playing Gaelic football.
“I had no idea what the rules were nor how to play it. It’s not the easiest of games and it requires a lot of multi-tasking, which I’m no good at. But it’s exciting and there’s plenty of camaraderie and spirit on and off the field,” Werner said.
Another newbie to the sport, Kelly Ryan, said she had played a number of sports at school but Gaelic football was an amalgamation of all of them. “It’s definitely different than the mainstream sports I’ve played. Donal is a great coach and that has certainly helped me get a better understanding and feel for the game,” Ryan said.
While the sport offers residents a new experience as far as the sporting world goes, the Zulu Gaels have also attracted more Irishmen.
Ken Allen, from Cork said it’s been great craic (fun) meeting other Irish people and sharing the sport with locals. “I’d never played Gaelic football in Ireland but when I moved to Qatar, I got my first taste of it. When we moved to KZN, I had no idea there was a team until I spotted an ad on Gumtree,” he said.
His girlfriend, Sarah Paul, also got a taste of Gaelic football in Qatar and said she would like to see more girls involved.
“When we were in Qatar, I played in an all-girls team. It’s a bit more daunting with all the boys. It would be fantastic if we had more girls playing,” Sarah enthused.
Coach and founder of the team, Donal Ryan said he would love for more people to join in. “We want to grow from here. The team has really taken to the sport. I would love more people to join. That’s my dream to see the sport expand,” Ryan said.
The team trains at Victory Christian Academy every Saturday at 2pm. For more information or to join contact Donal on 076 706 3612 or email donaloriain@ gmail.com
