Hundreds of school boys from around the country will attend the 19th Annual Talent ID Festival will be held from October 3-5 in Glencoe, Dundee and hosted at Sarel Cilliers High School.
The Festival has been renamed as the Mark Godefroy/KZNRU Talent ID Festival after the late Mark Godefroy who bequeathed over R1-million in his will to the KZNRU for the Development of rugby in the province. The money has been placed in a Trust and the proceeds generated from the interest will be utilised to offer a bursary to a talented player from the previously disadvantaged communities to attend the Sharks Academy.
This festival is used to identify the best available talent from the previously disadvantaged communities. This year we had 24 players chosen for the various KZN Schools’ teams that came through this process.
These players are either still in development schools or are in Ex-Model C/Private schools on full bursaries. The tournament is not only used to identify players but referees, coaches and managers as well. Players who have progressed through this festival are Cedric Mkhize (Super 14), Jody Jenneker (Super 14), Melusi ‘Barra’ Mthethwa (Currie Cup), Thabane Sangweni (Vodacom Cup), Menzi Ngidi (Sharks Under 19 and 21), Sizwe Zondo (Sharks Under 19, 21 and Vodacom Cup) Khaya Majola (Sharks U19 & U21, SA U20 [World Cup Winner], Vodacom Cup, Currie Cup) and Sandile Khubeka (SA Schools, Sharks U19 & U21 and Vodacom Cup) to name but a few. Many others are thriving in the club scene and the various academies as well.
The process to get to this final provincial tournament involves the five sub-unions, which incorporates all the district municipalities, who hold trials to select the best U12, U15 and U17 players from only historically disadvantaged communities/schools.
This includes areas like Munster, Ixopo, Kokstad, Harding, Gamalakhe, Umlazi, KwaMashu, Umbumbulu, Kwadakuza, Clermont, Wentworth, KwaMakutha, Ezikhaweni, Kwadlangezwa, Stanger, Mandini, Ulundi, Pongola, Hluhluwe, Matabatuba, Vryheid, Dundee, Osizweni, Madadeni, Mafusini, Bergville and other rural communities. Around 500 players and 40 coaches and managers in each sub-union, are involved in this process, except Ethekwini/Ilembe, where around 1 400 players and officials are involved. Total number of players and officials involved in the trials/selection process is thus around 3 600 players and officials. In each sub-union, 60 players ie 20 U12, 20 U15 and 20 U17 boys, are selected to represent the region. A total of 300 players attend the final tournament, together with 45 coaches and managers.
Said Quinton Reynolds manager: coach education and rugby development KZN rugby union: “We also invite three extra teams, one in each age group, to participate. This year we will have Alfred Nzo District U12 and U15 (Matatiele, Mt Frere Area) and Itembelihle U17 (New Brighton, Port Elizabeth), joining us for the festival.
Three provincial squads (U12, U15 & U17) are selected by neutral selectors from the Ex-Model C and Private Schools who also use the opportunity to scout for their respective institutions. These schools offer bursaries and scholarships to their institutions. At present, there are approximately 90 boys on scholarships at various schools throughout the province.
SA Rugby Union usually send a panel of referees to officiate at the festival, demonstrating the importance of the festival to the transformation process. However, this year, they will send an Assessor to assess the 10 referees who are based here in KZN.
The festival is supported by the following: KZN Department of Sport and Recreation fund all accommodation, transport and certain meals for all the participants and technical officials. KZN Rugby Union staff are accommodated by KZN Rugby Union, who also fund the trials and selection processes.
Clover SA (All juices), SA Rugby Union (tournament costs, accommodation for visiting teams and some meals, administrative costs and referees’ travel and accommodation costs), Gem Schoolwear (all players’ t-shirts, shorts and socks and officials’ golf-shirts and jackets) and officials dinner – meat supplied by Bluff Meat Supply.
