Purpose, not feelings for these young rugby players
Rugby is a game for those who do not fear pain.
Rugby is a game for those who do not fear pain but endure purpose, and it’s this love of the game that keeps players going. Four boys from Eldorado Park have been selected for the U15, Team Johannesburg.
Over the past weekend, they played at the Germiston Stadium. Based on their results, the four boys have an opportunity to represent Gauteng in Italy in July next year.
Nathao Mattera, Devandre Tully, and Deandre Doyle are from Lancea Vale High School and Baydon Damons hails from Eldomaine High School.
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This great opportunity is supported by the Golden Lions and the City of Johannesburg.
Mattera has an undisguised love of the game and said, “Rugby is a wonderful sport that I find extremely exciting and interesting.”
As they were practising for the game in Moletsane, Soweto, Tully said, “I’m looking forward to the game, my mindset is in the right place, but in order to be great I need more training.”
Any sportsperson would like to be successful in their chosen discipline and Damons said, “I see myself as a pro-rugby player travelling the world.
“Rugby teaches you about respect and the role that you need to play and constantly reminds you that with discipline, you can go anywhere and achieve anything,” he said.
The four are all forwards and they are coached by Jesse Maart from the Eldoronians Rugby Club. Maart said, “It is a privilege to work with these talented boys and I am looking forward to growing as a coach, mentor and as a big brother.”
He added, “Rugby teaches the boys the basic principles of life where discipline and fitness are crucial. If you are not fit, you cannot play rugby or any other sport for that matter.
“The growth and culture of rugby needs to be maintained and I’m expecting that all schools in Eldorado Park will participate in the 2018 rugby programme.
“It is going to be a hit because of all the opportunities for the sportsmen in our community. To the boys, as their coach, I say, ‘No pain no gain. Purpose, not feelings’.”
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