Mametsa: players mustn’t lose hope
John Mametsa, former Springbok rugby player was spotted motivating and educating young rugby players during the Limpopo Rugby Youth Day celebration.
POLOKWANE – John Mametsa, former Springbok rugby player and the first black South African to have appeared in 100 Currie Cup matches, says rugby is a very popular sport in the province.
Mametsa is a Limpopo born and raised rugby player who started his career as a junior with the Vodacom Blue Bulls in 2001. During his 100th game against the Lions at Ellis Park Stadium on June 21 2008, he scored three tries for the Bulls and went on to score the most tries by any Bulls player that year. He was part of the Vodacom Blue Bulls team that won the Currie Cup in 2003 and 2004, and the team that shared the trophy with the Vodacom Cheetahs in 2006.
Mametsa was spotted motivating and educating young rugby players during the Limpopo Rugby Youth Day celebration that was held by the department of sport, arts and culture at Noordelikes rugby fields on Saturday. Rugby is a sport that enjoys a lot of support in the province and the department should host such events more often, he remarked.
“Players need platforms to be able to showcase their skills and in that way they will stay motivated and strive to achieve more. I believe that more can still be done in the province to keep various sporting codes rolling,” said Mametsa.
He added that rugby was not like soccer where one could just play. One should know the sport of rugby well in order to play and excel. He further said he was happy to see so much talent. Mametsa said SABC should join forces with the department to take the games to the people so that scouts can recruit players and place them in professional teams.
“Players should not lose hope, but play to open doors to a better future. It takes hard work, passion and dedication to become the best,” said Mametsa.
Rugby legends motivate up and coming players
