Kruinies dedicate sevens match to André Hay
Team coach Oliver Moorcroft said despite the team's loss by 39-29 at the match played at HTS Tom Naudé, the young men showed character throughout the match.
POLOKWANE- Curro Heuwelkruin’s u/16 rugby team dedicated their Limpopo High Schools Sevens final match against Nylstroom High School on Saturday to the school’s late head of rugby, André Hay.
Hay, a much respected rugby mentor and administrator who has produced Springbok players in his lifetime, passed away on July 21.
Team coach Oliver Moorcroft said despite the team’s loss by 39-29 at the match played at HTS Tom Naudé, the young men showed character throughout the match.
“Because of Andre’s passing, it was not an ideal time to play, but the boys were brave. With more practice sessions we will win more matches.”
The team will represent the school at the Noordvaal Rugby League, set for August.
“We qualified for Noordvaal earlier this year and here we will play for André. He was our mentor and a legend of the game. He was dedicated to rugby and he will be missed by us and the rugby fraternity in the province.”
Player Itu Makgakga described Hay as a visionary.
“We wanted to win the match for him but it was not to be. We are playing Noordvaal next month and he will be in our hearts in every match. He wasn’t just a coach but a father to all of us. He wanted Curro Huewelkruin to be the leading rugby school in the province.”
Team captain Armandt Smith said Hay wanted all the players to give their best performance in every match.
“He wanted us to succeed in everything we do. And he wanted us to work hard in practice and to perform to our best ability in all the matches. If we are loyal to rugby, rugby would take us far, he always told us.”
